Do you know what a turkey vulture is? If you are like me and have a 2-year-old who loves to watch “Diego” than you likely know that it is a large black bird that appears to be a cross between a turkey and a vulture (though, to me, it has more characteristics of a vulture than a turkey). Needless to say, it is by no means a pretty bird. But then again, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Not that you know what a turkey vulture is you can better understand what residents of a New Jersey township are dealing with. Homeowners in Florence, New Jersey are experiencing what can only be described as a scene straight out of Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Birds.” According to news reports, dozens of turkey vultures have descended on the banks of the Delaware River, and are forcing residents to keep their eyes to the sky.
“You have to walk with caution,” one resident told a local newspaper. “Not from what’s on the ground but from what might come from above. It splatters all over when it hits.”
So, why have the birds decided to flock to the township? Some speculate that the birds are attracted to a landfill which sits across the Delaware River in Tullytown, Pennsylvania, but animal experts say that’s not the case because turkey vultures prefer carrion to garbage. And, while officials say the baldheaded winged creatures are not considered dangerous, residents of the township can attest to the fact that they are destructive. Some residents have reported that the birds have been busy deflating pools and destroying outdoor trampolines. Residents also complain that the turkey vultures leave a horrible stench behind (and it’s no surprise since they feed on roadkill and other dead animals).
The problem with taking an aggressive approach to curbing the flock is the fact that according to the United States Department of Agriculture, turkey vultures are “protected species” and must be contained using “passive measures.” The township in conjunction with the USDA has already tried to banish the birds by “hanging holographic ribbon material, large orange balls called ‘Terror Eyes’ and even effigies of dead birds” to no avail. They are considering using noisemakers, and if that doesn’t work, township officials say they may have to resort to “population reduction.” Meanwhile, residents say they don’t care how the turkey vultures are taken care of, they just want them out of their neighborhoods.