Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Nature’s cleanup crew: Stunning photos show vultures in a different
light
A vulture is a predatory bird that scavenges on carrion, the decaying
flesh of dead animals. 23 extant species, including condors, live on every
continent but Australia and Antarctica. Their unique features include featherless
heads, powerful hooked beaks, and wide wingspans, which could reach over three
meters. Ecologically, vultures play an important role as they help stop the
spread of disease from rotting meat. They are rarely seen except in the wild,
where dead animals can be spotted from the sky. Unfortunately, their populations
have declined significantly due to energy infrastructure, such as power lines
and wind turbines, habitat fragmentation, and poaching. To raise awareness and
highlight the ecological importance of vultures, International Vulture
Awareness Day (IVAD) hosts the annual World of Vultures Photography Contest. It
is open to photographers globally, and anyone can submit original photographs
of any vulture species.
Read the article and see the photos to learn what vultures are like.
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