Turkey Vultures

Turkey Vultures

 

The turkey vulture, who has some of the most amazing mechanisms to be found in a bird, was designed by a caring Creator to help deal with the emergency of decay and death caused by sin on this planet.

This sharp-eyed bird holds his wings up (a six-foot wingspan) in a slight V-shape to maintain stability and lift at low altitudes. You can watch him following the scent of carrion hidden under a canopy of branches and leaves. The dead creatures are only located by the vulture's extraordinarily keen sense of smell. It's a God-given not-by-accident gift!

Probably we've all seen a turkey vulture alight upon road kills. He steps into them and begins devouring the meat. The turkey vulture's sophisticated immune sys-tem includes powerful digestive juices which counteract the poisons in the meat they are eating. Now just a warning: Some of what will be shared next may seem repulsive at first, but as we examine a bit of the wisdom in the turkey vulture's programmed behavior, we are left in awe at the protection devised by the Creator for this "clean-up" bird. We'll begin with the vulture's elimination. Often when the turkey vulture urinates or defecates, he does so on his own legs! Those excretions can save his life because they contain powerful sanitizing agents and such strong uric acid that it kills harmful botulism and other toxins often found in dead ani-mals. Otherwise poisons might cling to the vulture's own legs and feet from when he steps into a carcass! Clearly a wise Creator was behind that not-by-accident elimination design.

The lack of head feathers on this large bird is another not-by-accident plan to meet a vulture's needs, because the bird plunges its red head deeply into the flesh of a dead creature. Since blood and body fluids from the carcass splatter, the vulture would have difficulty cleaning off head feathers. However, with a bald head, the bird is able to eliminate any contaminating filth by simply letting the sun bake it off!

Thank God for creatures designed to remove garbage and carrion on this death-filled earth!

However the turkey vulture does have enemies. But he also has a nauseous means of escape. In the presence of danger, adults (or babies whose parents regurgi-tated nourishment into them) simply vomit up a wad of smelly, material. Few non-scavenger animals will remain near such a revolting mass. The turkey vulture's protective not-by-accident defense mechanism does function well!

Now observations—First: Researchers have noted that when preference is given, a turkey vulture will choose the meat of herbivorous animals rather than that of dogs and other carnivores. Second: It was reported to us in Brazil that only another scavenger like a vulture or pig will eat the remains of a fellow scavenger! Other carnivores are programmed to know what is edible for them. However, for us humans, we're free to choose if we'll follow His good plans for us or not.

"NOT BY ACCIDENT" (c) Juanita Kretschmar is used by permission and was first published in the book "Not By Accident 2" page 43.

Picture originally found here

Related Articles

More From Genesis

Chipmunks

It hardly seems possible that the Least Chipmunk, weighing barely over an ounce (about the…
Chipmunks

Butterflies & Moths

Most moths are out and about at night, while butterflies are usually on the wing in the…
Butterflies & Moths

Loggerhead Turtle

Research shows that Florida beaches account for a third of the world population of loggerhead…
Loggerhead Turtle

God's Amazing Grass

In the Torah (Bible), we read “Then God said, ‘Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that…
God's Amazing Grass

You Shall Not Eat...the Hare

I had a biology lesson resulting from my walk today in the latter part of February.
You Shall Not Eat...the Hare

Key West Chickens

There's an estimated 24 billion chickens around the world—definitely not considered to be…
Key West Chickens

Scrub Jays

The long tail feathers of Scrub Jays make these colorful songbirds appear larger than they…
Scrub Jays

Burrowing Owl

The Burrowing Owl lives with unique "NOT BY ACCIDENT" design! Look at the nest material used…
Burrowing Owl
Sand

Sand

“Thus says the Lord: ‘Do no wrong’” (Jeremiah 22:3). This picture shows the ocean, and on the…
Sand

Ants

The ants' brains are the largest of any insect, and their mushroom-shaped appendages have been…
Ants

Key Deer

Like all newly-born white-tailed deer, the fawn in the key deer sub-species has a beautiful…
Key Deer

Honey Bees

Honey bees are organized and focused— "done right" by their Creator who programmed them with…
Honey Bees

Ravens

One wonders WHY God created the raven with an intelligence which they often use manipulatively…
Ravens
Creation

Foundation Genesis

According to the most recent polls, over the past 50 years, Americans have been pretty…
Foundation Genesis

Australian Platypus

With some features of a duck, a beaver, and an otter, the platypus is a mammal without nipples…
Australian Platypus

Manatees

"A mechanical creature, the manatee, at A KEY Encounter, waves very slowly as people pass by.…
Manatees

The Anhinga

The anhinga, if measured by appearance, to say the least is a sharp dresser! (Black and white…
The Anhinga

Publish the Menu module to "offcanvas" position. Here you can publish other modules as well.
Learn More.


donation