Competition for carrion

Late in 2003 was one of the first times I reported seeing black vultures ("Squirrel mortality") instead of the always more common turkey vultures. Just as mourning doves seem to be giving way to whitewings, it seems that we now see black vultures in greater numbers and more often. We saw at least seven, and up very close, taking their turns at a squirrel. This is still my favorite picture of the black vulture, because it shows the white usually displayed when this bird is in flight.