Black vultures (Coragyps atratus) are a common sight in many parts of the United States, especially in the southeast. With their dark plumage and bald heads, these carrion-eating birds are often considered creepy or a nuisance. However, black vultures play an important ecological role and are federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Understanding their status and why they are protected can help people coexist with these unique birds.
Are black vultures protected?
Yes, black vultures are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. This act makes it illegal to harm or kill black vultures, their nests, or eggs without a permit.
The Migratory Bird Treaty Act protects over 1000 species of birds native to the United States. It was created after many populations of North American birds became threatened by overhunting and loss of habitat. The law implements treaties between the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Japan, and Russia to protect shared migratory bird species.
All native vulture species in the U.S. are covered under the MBTA, including the black vulture and turkey vulture.
Why are black vultures protected?
There are several reasons why black vultures are federally protected:
Important scavengers
Black vultures provide an important ecosystem service as scavengers. By consuming carrion, vultures recycle nutrients back into the environment and prevent the spread of diseases from rotting carcasses. Without scavengers like black vultures, ecosystems would be less healthy.
Population declines
In the past, black vulture populations declined due to habitat loss and persecution by humans. Protecting the birds helps maintain healthy population numbers.
Migratory patterns
Black vultures migrate between the United States, Central America, and South America. International cooperation is needed to protect populations across these regions. The Migratory Bird Treaty facilitates this cooperation.
Black vulture status today
Once threatened by persecution, black vulture populations have rebounded thanks to protection efforts. Partners in Flight, an international avian conservation group, estimates there are now over 24 million individual black vultures in the world. Their numbers have increased as they have adapted to live in close proximity to human settlements and take advantage of food sources like landfills.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies the black vulture as a species of Least Concern. Their populations are stable and may be increasing in some areas. Protection efforts have been successful at allowing their numbers to rebound.
In the United States, black vulture populations are concentrated in the southeast but can be found as far west as California and as far north as New Jersey. Christmas Bird Count data collected by amateur birders suggests black vulture numbers have increased in many states since the late 1960s.
Is it legal to kill black vultures?
In general, it is illegal for the average person to kill a black vulture without a permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Black vultures are migratory birds protected under federal law.
However, certain cases may warrant legal vulture control or lethal removal, such as:
– Airports can receive permits to haze or kill vultures that pose threats to aircraft safety.
– Livestock owners may be permitted to kill vultures preying on their farm animals if non-lethal deterrents don’t work. However, they must submit proper paperwork demonstrating the need for lethal control.
– State wildlife agencies can obtain permits for limited vulture trapping or egg control if populations conflict with conservation goals.
Outside of these exceptions, killing or harming black vultures is usually illegal without a permit. Even harassment such as startling birds at a roost site is not permitted under the MBTA. Those who wish to control nuisance vultures should use legal non-lethal hazing measures instead of resorting to killing protected birds.
Identifying black vultures
To avoid hassling or harming protected vultures, it is important to be able to identify black vultures.
Here are some key identification traits:
- Mostly black plumage with gray undersides on the wings
- Bald, wrinkled red or gray head and neck
- Sharp beak for tearing into carrion
- Broad wings with finger-like wingtips
- Short tail feathers
- Soars on flat wings
Black vultures can be distinguished from turkey vultures, which share a similar lifestyle, by their coloring. Turkey vultures have bright red heads and silvery wing undersides compared to the black vulture’s grayer plumage.
In flight, black vultures have a stouter profile than other vultures, with a short tail and broad wings. Their wingtips have a pronounced V-shape, unlike turkey vultures whose wings are more evenly tapered at the tips.
Black vulture behavior
Learning about black vulture behavior can help people coexist with these birds and understand why they act the way they do. Here are some interesting facts about their behavior:
- Roost communally at night, sometimes in large groups during migration or winter.
- Form family groups centered around a mated pair.
- Lay eggs on the ground in sheltered areas like hollow logs or caves.
- Have an excellent sense of smell unusual for vultures.
- Will travel up to 200 miles per day from roost sites in search of food.
- Are social and intelligent birds.
- May damage property or vehicles when tearing materials to build nests.
- Will readily approach human-created food sources like landfills.
Understanding why black vultures act certain ways can help people address issues compassionately even when the birds cause property damage or other nuisance problems. Their social nature and intelligence means they can adapt their behavior through non-lethal hazing programs.
Common problems & solutions
While black vultures are protected birds, they sometimes come into conflict with human interests. Here are some common black vulture problems and solutions:
Problem: Vultures roosting on structures
Vultures often roost on man-made structures like cell phone towers, roof ledges, or window awnings. Their droppings can damage property.
Solutions:
- Install vulture deterrents like bird spikes, repellent gels or slope modification.
- Use hazing tools like lasers, effigies, or noise-makers to scare vultures off roosts.
- Block access to sheltered roost spots vultures prefer.
Problem: Vultures attacking livestock
Black vultures may sometimes kill small, weak livestock. More often they pick afterbirths and open wounds on living animals.
Solutions:
- Improve livestock enclosures and supervision of vulnerable animals.
- Promptly remove carcasses vultures may feed on.
- Use scare devices and haze vultures away from livestock.
- In severe cases, get a permit for limited lethal control.
Problem: Collisions with aircraft
Vultures can cause collisions at airports because they are attracted to grassy areas.
Solutions:
- Modify airport habitats to reduce attractions.
- Use pyrotechnics and other harassment methods to haze birds.
- Seek permits for limited control programs if hazards are severe.
Addressing problems compassionately through hazing, modifying habitats, and deterrents is preferable to harming black vultures which provide important ecosystem services and are protected by federal law.
Fascinating black vulture facts
Here are some interesting facts about these unique birds:
- Black vultures have a well-developed sense of smell, unusual for vultures. They use smell to locate carcasses.
- Because they don’t rely on rising thermal air currents as much, black vultures fly earlier in the day than turkey vultures.
- Unlike many other vultures, black vultures find carcasses by sight and smell rather than by following other scavengers.
- They are very social and roost in communal groups, sometimes in the hundreds.
- Black vultures will sometimes charge and hiss when threatened, unlike more passive turkey vultures.
- The turkey vulture and black vulture are not closely related despite their similar roles as scavengers.
- Black vultures will sometimes scrape asphalt from roofs to line their nests on the ground.
- Young vultures are called fledglings and remain dependent on their parents for the first 2-3 months.
- Black vultures bathe frequently and like to loaf in puddles after rainstorms.
Conclusion
While black vultures can cause nuisances, they are important scavengers protected under federal law. Their unique adaptations like keen smell help them clean up carrion and recycle nutrients back into ecosystems. With tolerance and proactive non-lethal management, black vultures and people can coexist. By understanding their ecological role and proper identification, we can avoid harming this fascinating protected species. With research and compassion, we can find solutions that work for both vultures and humans alike.