BMW = Buzzards Make Way!

[bigjohnsd]

I left Marietta OH about 0630 this morning headed West.
Fred, on OH 32 didn't get the "BMW" message. He took off from breakfast but then decided he needed one more bite of the dead squirel and did a wingover right into me. Broke a little plastic, no harm to me and no stains in my shorts.

In Pikesville OH now enjoying breakfast while a line of thunderstorms passes over. Next stop Georgetown IL.

 

[mikegalbicka]

Wow. Glad you weren’t damaged. I really slow down and lean on the horn if possible when I approach those buffets.

 

[ramble]

Still going? Respond if ya need help or storage.

 

[ramble]

OK saw your note at bottom of pic. Storm line is passing at 11:30 local. Rain is over to the west.

 

[52184]

Wow. Glad you weren’t damaged. I really slow down and lean on the horn if possible when I approach those buffets.

Likewise! If for no other reason, just because when they take off they will often offload the end products of their buffet dining, perhaps as a way of lightening the load and faster gaining of altitude and airspeed. And some of them shed a LOT of weight…

Glad that Bigjohnsd wasn’t injured!

Best,
DeVern

 

[akbeemer]

Fortunate that it didn’t do more damage John. Hope you collected the bird carcass for mounting on your trophy wall.

 

[bigjohnsd]

Still going? Respond if ya need help or storage.

Thanks for the offer - all is well!

Home in Spearfish this evening, first chance to look at this thread.

John

 

[bigjohnsd]

Fortunate that it didn’t do more damage John. Hope you collected the bird carcass for mounting on your trophy wall.

Carcass left for the next Buzzard - what did amaze me was the relative lightness of said carcass, for a bird with a six-foot wingspan they don't weigh much, about a Kilo seems to be average. When I picked it up after pulling it out of the bike, should have got that picture but my adrenalin was still pumping, it was like picking up a beer in a plastic mug, It just didn't feel right, a total lack of substance.

 

[brownie0486]

Glad you're okay, that could have been a lot nastier ending.

 

[lee]

what did amaze me was the relative lightness of said carcass, for a bird with a six-foot wingspan they don't weigh much, .

Hollow bones make them lighter.

Here's a fact I did not know about the hollow bones, which is also true for Eagles.

In the morning, Turkey Vultures are often seen standing on tree limbs with their wings outstretched to the sun. They are a very lightweight bird with long hollow bones filled with air. As the sunshine warms them, the air in their wing bones expands, warming them up and making it easier to fly. During this warming time, a bird may fly up only a few hundred feet to test the air and look for thermal currents. If the conditions are not right, they will return to their spot to warm in the sun some more.

 

[bigjohnsd]

Adding up various plastic bits already over $500 before the Headlight Protector from Touratech.

Called my Insurance agent and filed a claim, I had hoped to handle it myself but that is why we have insurance - animal = comprehensive, no fault to me.