Flock Carnivores Discovered!

[Tompaleo@aol.com]

Well it seems that we DO have a bird species that is beginning to pack hunt
(more like flock hunt). I was reading the Metropolitan Times section of the
Washington Times Newspaper (p.c11)an lo and behold there was this article
about Black Vultures that have turned to preying on livestock in farms
surrounding a large Virgina military base where these birds migrate to during
the winter. (Paraphrasing)  One farmer has stated that he has lost 20 animals
to these birds over the last 30 years! This year alone, 16 farmers allege
loosing livestock to the vultures. They are becoming a nuisance to homeowbers
because they flock to roofs and peck away at the shingles and caulking, cars
vinyl seats and boats etc. The birds sometimes congregate in a flock of
hundreds of birds near areas where young  first time heiffers are giving
birth. It seems that these youg heiffers regularly become paralyzed shortly
after calving and that's when they strike.

In short my fellow dinophiles here is a reputed scavanger that has apparently
learned to kill. Since deer will also be dropping fawns in another couple of
months, I would be very interested to see if they apply their tactic to
_wild_animals as well!

Comments anyone?

                                     Thomas R. Lipka
                                     Paleontological/Geological Studies
                                     Tompaleo@aol.com