Predictions: Problems or Positives?

How do you predict?

Are your predictions typically problems or positives? What if you had a gathering of one hundred of something much as the above picture? Would you say, “Shoo, go away”? How about, “Come closer so I could get to know you better”?

Let’s try a bit of a closer look.

Oh my, now we know they are turkey vultures! If you were not curious, you might just assume the worst about this unique looking creature. Did you know if you were up close and personal to this bird that if you looked straight into one nostril, you’d also be looking straight through the other nostril? Perhaps if we investigated our assumptions more thoroughly, we’d be more positive with our predictions.

Did you know that these birds never kill their food, but only eat critters that were already dead? Those finely honed nostrils are able to detect the scent of their food over a mile away within 12 to 24 hours of the death.

The turkey vulture name means cleansing breeze! Maybe it is because they are the carrion cleaning crew! If it weren’t for these birds working in community to rid the area of rotting, deceased animal carcasses, it would not be quite as pleasant.

Prediction: Who is related to them?

With more than twenty guesses, I would have never predicted the bird most closely related to the turkey vulture. I find it fascinating that the very bird who represents birth, the stork, is related to a bird so closely connected with death.

The T.V. is typically two and a half foot tall with a six foot wing span, however its body weighs only three pounds. Their life span can be up to twenty-four years. They are actually evolutionary marvels as their featherless head is a benefit when eating their messy feasts. In the midwestern United States they are known as a harbinger to spring as they find their way back north. Here are a couple of sites to learn more on turkey vultures: https://www.cmnh.org/the-great-(and-gross)-turkey-vulture and https://www.chattnaturecenter.org/visit/experience/wildlife/animal-facts/turkey-vulture/

How could knowing this help me with problems or positives?

We could broaden ourselves, much as the majestic turkey vulture does when it spreads its wings to warm in the morning sun. Our broadening, however, would be in educating ourselves. The more I learned regarding this bird, the less I feared it. I gained a new appreciation for another creature. The same is true of any culture or belief that is foreign to us. Once we learn more, we may find there are some commonalities and characteristics to change our perspective to a more appreciative one. It could allow talking points to compromise with others. We can bridge from judging and jumping to conclusions by striving to understand. It is possible to change our predictions from problems to positives!

If you enjoyed this journey through nature, here is another of my posts on nature: THINK LIKE WATER. Learning about nature can actually help us to be better humans.

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