Large black birds policing the Energy Corridor

The road-kill cleanup crew perching on power line pylons
and elsewhere, like fences around the animal pens at
Bear Creek Pioneers Park 

Turkey vultures

Turkey vultures are easily distinguish from 

the more common Black AmericanVultures

because they have much in common with 

turkeys as the name implies. 

Turkey Vulture perching

Both turkey vultures and black vultures are

common in the area, but the black ones are

much more numerous, and can often be seen

in pairs and even large groups. 

Pair of American Vultures on a power-line pylon in
George Bush Park near South Barker-Cypress Road 

Happy Halloween from a Scruffy Black American Vulture

Cute pictures of vultures ... is that an oxymoron?

Judge for yourself 

American Black Vulture in the midst of a portraiture session (even with halo)

Most people brave enough to speak in defense of vultures make utilitarian arguments. These scavengers pick up the road-kill, so the argument goes; and help keep the highways clean, not to mention less putrid. They should be respected for the good work they do. And they are right, of course. 

But what about the aesthetics not just of their majestic appearance, but their moves across the sky, and their elevation of perching in high places to an art form?

Here is some more pics for serious American vulture appreciation: 

Vulture soaring high over Addicks Reservoir area

Air passing in the sky why black vultures linger on a light post

I have posted pics before showing vultures at work. In the perception of many humans, seeing the vultures in action -- i.e., hacking into carcasses of dead animals and ripping bits of dead meat out -- may be less edifying. But watching that spectacle will convince you it's hard work. No reason to give them less respect than eagles just because they don't usually first kill what they dissect and devour. 

American Black Vultures aloft all alone, but gregarious on the ground (at Bear Creek Pioneers Park)

Seen, in large numbers, on Christmas Day 2012 in Addicks Reservoir in West Houston. Note that the black vultures -- unlike other animals -- are not deliberately kept on park grounds as zoo animals, but visit with pot-bellied pigs and exotic birds in their pens when not out on patrol high above the highways looking for road-kill. 

Peaceful cross-species co-existence, apparently. 

American Black Vultures hanging out at the pig pen at Pioneers Park

Vulture soaring above the canopy of trees in Addicks Reservoir at dusk

Carrion Dinner - Black Vultures hacking into animal carcass

Keeping the park clean and free of the putrid stench of decay: Two vultures taking turns hacking into
the carcass of a dead animal that cannot even be identified any more.

Colony of American Vultures perching on fence of pot-bellied pig pen in Bear Creek Pioneers Park
in North-West Harris County, Texas USA

Silhouettes of multiple black vultures sitting in a tree against blue sky in North-West Harris County, Texas