It’s Not Spooky to See a Maine Lawn Full of Turkey Buzzards, Right?

A group of turkey buzzards quietly gathering on someone's lawn is downright creepy.

Turkey Vultures Circling is a Common Sight in Maine

Turkey vultures, often called turkey buzzards, are carrion birds that feed on dead things. Most birds don't have a great sense of smell, but a Turkey Vulture can smell rotting flesh.

READ MORE: 9 Times Animals Have Taken Over the News in Maine  

Creepy, right?

Maine Turkey Vultures are Huge Birds in Body and Wingspan

They're huge birds, with an average wingspan of about 6 feet. Big and dark with a long, hooked beak, they make you think of every scary movie you've ever seen.

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We typically don't give them much thought when we see them circling overhead. In Maine, with so much of the state covered in forestland, they're an everyday sight. There's always something for them to feed on in the woods.

But it's different when you see them on the ground.

Maine Turkey Vultures on the Ground in Morning Ground Fog are Intimidating

Monday was a pretty morning, with a lot of mist in the air, so I thought I'd stop by the rest area behind Buck's Country Corner in Orrington to see if I could grab a few moody pictures of the stream. But, as I approached the rest area's driveway, I noticed a huge black bird walking across the road. I slowed down, trying to figure out what it was.

That's when it turned and looked at me. I swear my blood turned to ice.

Okay, not really. It was one bird, and he probably saw some roadkill. But as I pulled up the drive, I noticed there were at least five, all standing on this beautifully manicured lawn. Just. Standing.

Maybe it's because we live in the land of Stephen King or that Jim and I watched the Alfred Hitchcock classic, 'The Birds,' the other night, but I started wondering if I should check the property for dead things. Instead, I snapped a few pictures from a respectful distance, got in my car, and made a quick exit.

Still creeped out? You bet.