Today is International Vulture Awareness Day. 🖤 🤍 ❤️ 🥰

Not every bird is tiny and cute. Not every bird sings a beautiful song. But we love vultures just the same, including their grunts, hisses, and clacks (they don't have a syrinx, so they can't sing like other birds). Without them, the world would be a messy place with dangerous diseases spreading everywhere. Nature made vultures her cleanup crew and gave them stomach acid with a pH of 1 to destroy things like rabies, anthrax, and botulism. When vultures are killed or die off, feral dogs often take their place, and disease (especially rabies) begins to spread.

Vultures are beautiful birds. They are clean and love to bathe as often as possible and preen after every meal. They mate for life and are wonderful parents. To watch them soar is to see beauty on the wing.

Below is an #IVAD poster created to honor Andy N. Condor, one of the greatest ambassadors for vultures you could ever imagine. He had a long life with many friends, passing away just two weeks ago.

We will miss you, Andy. Soar high on the thermals, look down on us, and keep us safe. 🖤 🤍 🖤 💗 💚 🌈 🌈 🌈

#Vultures #InternationalVultureAwarenessDay #Birds #AndeanCondor