wwarped 0 #1 March 10, 2007 here I am in Louisiana, scouting out a beautiful 300 ft tower. old decommissioned freestander with a large platform. gorgeous landing area. as I drive up, I see 6 or so large birds circling. these are the big kind. larger than hawks. the tower must be sweet as a couple dozen of these guys are perched all over the structure! no visible nests, just plenty of talons and beaks. there is a wooded area 100-200 yards away. 'course the tower dwarfs all of them. I'm guessing if they like the tower during the day, they'll be there at night. maybe in a month or two they'll head north. thoughts?/suggestions?/advice? thanks! DON'T PANIC The lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss. sloppy habits -> sloppy jumps -> injury or worse Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nicrussell 0 #2 March 10, 2007 are they vultures? if so they wont attack, or most likely wont. youd spook them, and theyd kaa which might spook you so be ready for it. we have one that has ravens living on it that startle me sometimes, its when there silent and swoop in colse to investigate that freaks me out the most. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Spiderbaby 0 #3 March 10, 2007 Yah, my guess would be vultures as well given that you are totally in vulture country. They will fly away and return when you are done. Other large birds are much more solitary, vultures hang in big STINKY packs. Get ready for the smelly mess of the century, and have fun."It takes a big man to cry, it takes an even bigger man to make that big man cry" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hookitt 0 #4 March 10, 2007 Look up buzzard or vulture on google. Look at images and see if one of the pictures is the same as the birds you see. Most likely they'll just fly away until sometime after you leave the structure. There are a lot of Turkey Vultures on a certain structure around here. They just fly away. Sometimes you can pass one or two of them without disturbing them if they are sleeping. I've walked up the stairs on a local object, right past large falcons sleeping on the railing before. They don't bother you. If there are bird kids or unhatched bird kids, then you may have some trouble. edit: I must be slackin, you guys beat me buy several minutes.My grammar sometimes resembles that of magnetic refrigerator poetry... Ghetto Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wwarped 0 #5 March 11, 2007 from memory and a few images, it looks like I stumbled across a "venue" of turkey vultures. I spotted the "kettle" circling above the site. it seems they have some rather offensive habits, like vomitting and defecating on themselves. could prove interesting... DON'T PANIC The lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss. sloppy habits -> sloppy jumps -> injury or worse Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Calvin19 0 #6 March 11, 2007 bring your B gear if they are going to poop on it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wwarped 0 #7 March 11, 2007 Quotebring your B gear if they are going to poop on it. gotta like this part: "Vulture poop is actually a sanitizer! Their uric acid is so strong (because of the nature of their diets) that it kills bacteria." while it doesn't say how it reacts to nylon, I doubt it is good! DON'T PANIC The lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss. sloppy habits -> sloppy jumps -> injury or worse Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fastphil 0 #8 March 11, 2007 My guess is that they're not headed north, they will patiently wait for you... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
geezangen 0 #9 March 11, 2007 just shoot them !!!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Naptown 0 #10 March 12, 2007 We have a tower that is named "Buzzard" because of them.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gweeks 1 #11 March 12, 2007 As proved by Naptown one night, yelling and waving your arms like King Kong on top of the empire state building does not make buzzards go away. It does make your jump buddy laugh though Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wwarped 0 #12 March 12, 2007 QuoteAs proved by Naptown one night, yelling and waving your arms like King Kong on top of the empire state building does not make buzzards go away. It does make your jump buddy laugh though I'll settle for letting sleeping dogs lie (or rather sleeping turkey vultures roost). if they choose to let me be, I'm happy to show the same consideration. DON'T PANIC The lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss. sloppy habits -> sloppy jumps -> injury or worse Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mindtrick 0 #13 March 12, 2007 they only hang out if someone is going to go in they know so ig u see vultures dont jump its gonna be bad news i never jump if i see a bird in the sky but thats just me clouds are bad news 2 man if god doesnot want u flicking he will make it cloudy so dont jump when our lord and savior doesnt want u to Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Naptown 0 #14 March 12, 2007 QuoteIt does make your jump buddy laugh though Is that what you were doing? I couldn't tell with you cowering behind me Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
crazydave44 0 #15 March 12, 2007 I see these birds on almost every day tower jump. They are very curious and as interested in you as you are in them. No, they do not propose any threat. I actually like them around. Especially when I am about 1200' or so and they just keep flying with, and around me. The higher I go, the higher they go, and they just keep following. I look at them as my liitle flying friends. Gives a really cool visual, and they mean no harm. They are just waiting for you to bounce, so they can eat you... Just jump it bro.________________________________________ "We make our own rules, We pave our own paths, We write our own destinies, We 'live' our own lives" ________________________________________ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wwarped 0 #16 March 12, 2007 Quote Just jump it bro. I thought last night would be a nice opportunity to be neighborly. the haze, waning moon, and impending fog made for a dark night. so I went out to introduce myself. as I climbed, the winds grew noticably. that might be why the "venue" was absent. that left doing a solo... maybe next time I'll have company. DON'T PANIC The lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss. sloppy habits -> sloppy jumps -> injury or worse Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
460 0 #17 March 12, 2007 The only real hazard from buzzards is when you harrass them or shoot them they will vomit partially digested carrion on you. They are nearly impervious to gunshot for some reason. Shooting one is highly illegal since their role in the ecosystem is critical. They eat all the roadkill that would otherwise putrify in a disgusting diseased-filled maggot-filled bacterial pile.Looks like a death sandwich without the bread - Steve Deadman Morrell, BASE 174 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GreenMachine 0 #18 March 12, 2007 They are nearly impervious to gunshot for some reason. Yep, geese, turkeys & buzzards all have very dense feathers that are quite resistant to bird shot. Typically hunters will use bigger gauge shotguns with very stout shot.Rigger, Skydiver, BASE Jumper, Retired TM Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
UPS 0 #19 March 13, 2007 Yup hunters often use 12 gauges, even 10 if they don't feel confident enough The thing is, don't try your pellet gun, you will only get them mad and you'r gonna look like this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
