Biology 105: What do you call a group of vultures?

On our way to our final Texas destination, we stopped for a couple days at Matagorda Bay along the Gulf of Mexico. One of the days was rainy and gloomy so we took a drive to see what we could see. There were a couple vultures flying around and Al (always the Park Ranger) asked me to look up what a group of vultures was called. We found several terms: committee, venue, volt, wake and kettle.

We came around a corner and what do we see but a large group of vultures doing what they do best: eating road kill!

What do you call a group of vultures?

They are a committee, venue or volt when they are a group in the trees:

They are called a kettle when they are a group in flight:

And they are called a wake when they are feeding together on a carcass:

Here are 20 “fun” facts in case you need to more about vultures: http://birding.about.com/od/Bird-Trivia/a/20-Fun-Facts-About-Vultures.htm

The vultures we saw that day were Black Vultures: https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/black-vulture

See….I taught you something you didn’t know!

It’s been a very long time

I’m not sure why, but I stopped updating my blog 18 months ago. I sat down tonight and read through every single post over the last few years and the memories came flooding: Ava and Ryleigh as little ones, Trevor as a brand new baby, the many trips to Texas or Wyoming or camping, Joe & Lauren’s beautiful wedding.

I had forgotten about many of the posts and they made me smile. Some posts were completely mundane and about nothing special, but it all adds up. It is life and even the mundane things need to be recorded and remembered.

I’m starting again, if for nothing else then to have something to look back on someday. It’s my personal scrapbook, but shared with whoever wants to look at it.

Here you go…..a pictorial look at our life since the last post:

I turned 50 (WOW!)

We finally finished the outside of the house and added an awesome deck

Where we get to watch the wildlife around us. We are so blessed to be able to live here!

There was a wonderful wedding and we welcomed Erin & Ryleigh officially to the family

We also welcomed my nephew Leo

And we were blessed with our beautiful grandson Colin

We hatched new chickens

And celebrated our 30^th wedding anniversary

Al moved a cabin

We went to Texas

We watched Matt & Erin do part of RAGBRAI

We had a great trip to Lake McConaughy in Nebraska to meet up with our family from Wyoming

And went to Octoberfest in Amana

And Pella

And the state fair

And the pumpkin farm

And the American Gothic farmhouse

Bode broke his leg and had to have it amputated (he’s doing great!)

And we had some very crazy kids around sometimes

We have been blessed with many great times, and there are many more memories to be made that need to be recorded. I’m vowing to be diligent and keep it up!