Vultures, as you probably know, eat dead animals. They're nature's clean-up crew. How do they manage to survive as well as thrive on rotting meat that can contain deadly bacteria such as Botulinum toxin, hog cholera, and anthrax? The secret is in their stomachs -- exceptionally corrosive stomach acid. It has a pH of zero, as low as you can go on the pH scale. The acid serves another purpose as well: threaten a vulture and it will projectile vomit on you (pH 0). The vultures we see sailing on the wind here are Turkey Vultures. Go to the southeastern part of the country and you'll find Black Vultures as well. Vulture migration is well underway. They're beautiful birds to watch in the air even if you'd probably not want to confront one. That's a Turkey Vulture in the photo. They have bald heads because they stick their heads into, well into places where feathers would be a problem.
