Cooperation

Turkey vultures are beautiful in the sky, soaring on high thermals or flying the wind currents close to the ground.  Sometimes I watch them and imagine that I’m guiding them with my radio control transmitter.  But I’ve never flown a plane as gracefully as they can fly.

On the other hand, every time I see them feeding as a group, they fight with each other over every morsel of decaying meat.  On nature shows on television, every scene of vultures shows them fighting over a carcass.  They are disgusting.

The other day, I was driving slowly on a town street and spotted a carcass of an animal in the road ahead.  It was large, maybe a dog or big raccoon.  Three vultures stepped out and I slowed waiting for them to fight over a piece of meat.  Instead, they each grabbed a piece of the carcass and together pulled it off of the road by several feet.  I couldn’t believe it.  They were working together for the greater good.

That, my friend, is an example of evolution.  They have found new ways to eat their meat safely.

Vultures have excellent eyesight.  When I see one circling in the sky above our home, I’m going to shield the keypad for our garage door opener.  I don’t want them picking up the code and surprising me in the middle of my nap.

Seasoned Man

stevelem117@gmail.com