‘With the moose carcass in front of it, it just looks like that bird is just like, I’m in charge’
NORTH BAY — This is an exciting time of year for wildlife photographer Keith Benard.
He has multiple trap cameras set up in the bush near his Redbridge home.
Recently, after finding a moose carcass that was dropped off in the bush near Redbridge, Benard set up cameras to see what it would attract.
Well, his cameras caught something extraordinary. A large turkey vulture.
“The turkey vulture has a bad rap,” he said on social media.
“The ugly scavenger, and this is very true until you see a Turkey Vulture in its full wing span, and it is suddenly a beautiful and intimidating looking predator.
“It’s just a top predator, and what I thought was so impressive about those photos. It’s just how raw they look. You know, with the moose carcass in front of it, it just looks like that bird is just like, I’m in charge.”
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According to Ontario Parks, Turkey vultures are expanding their range northward in Ontario, becoming more common in the region due to climate warming and increased roadkill. These large, black, bald scavengers are often seen soaring on thermals in spring (arriving by mid-April) and are vital for ecosystem cleanup.
Benard, who sends his images to Getty Images and also creates wildlife calendars, has taken amazing photos of eagles, lynx, moose, bears, owls, to name just a few.
He estimates the large turkey vulture he photographed has a wingspan of close to seven feet, and a large turkey vulture is estimated to have a six-foot wing span.
Benard says the large birds with black plumage, a naked red head, and a distinctive “V-shape” or dihedral flight pattern are not easy to photograph.
“The only way I get them on camera. is if I have the carcass out. Other than that, I don’t see them.”