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SadMasterpiece7019 t1_j633t16 wrote

This is how they clean themselves. The UV light from the sun kills the bacteria that gets on them while they eat.

Fun fact: when vulture populations in India recently underwent a steep decline, cases of rabies, anthrax, and plague increased due to feral dog populations filling the niche that vultures occupied.

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GitEmSteveDave t1_j64o9g4 wrote

Wouldn't this happen as they are flying around anyway? I've only seen them do this at our farm in the morning after they roosted for the night on our fences before they take off.

https://turkeyvulturesunning.weebly.com/scientific-background.html

>Turkey vultures' main reason for sunning is to raise their body temperature so they can have enough energy to go about their daily activities. 

>It is important to note that turkey vultures are one of few birds that intentionally put themselves into a daily hypothermic state each night, lowering their body temperature a few degrees.

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WhatIsTickyTacky t1_j63xa1j wrote

I had no idea that’s what they were doing. I knew they were sunning themselves. I always assumed they were just warming up.

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