I have always been amused by collective nouns. An obstinacy of buffalo, an implausibility of wildebeest, and my personal favourite, a parliament of owls.
None of these is more appropriate than the one referring to a group of vultures on a carcass. A ‘wake’ is certainly an apt title for the raucous, squabbling group of birds seen with their heads covered in blood, pecking, clawing, and generally providing entertainment for any guests and rangers fortunate enough to be there at the time.
Two vultures square off on the giraffe carcass.
Two lionesses of the Sparta pride recently brought down a very large giraffe bull. We think the bull was most likely lying down when the lionesses made their move, as a wide awake giraffe of this size would probably have been too big a target even for these proficient huntresses. Be that as it may, we had an amazing few days viewing, as first the lionesses fed, sometimes with the two oldest Sparta cubs in attendance, and then three of the Majingilane coalition arrived, taking the lion’s share of the carcass, so to speak.
It is every vulture for themselves as feathers, beaks and claws are used to fend off competition
The vultures, meanwhile, were relegated to the sidelines, forced to wait on the ground nearby or perch in the dead leadwood trees with which the area is dotted. They would only have their chance to feed once the larger predators – the lions and later the hyenas – had fully satiated themselves.
Here you can see the claws and beaks of the two vultures digging into one another as they fight for prime feeding rights on the carcass.
Their patience was rewarded after a few days, when the apex predators had moved off during the night, and what was left of the kill was suddenly up for grabs as the sun rose. Whitebacked vultures dominated the feeding while the hooded vultures hopped around the fringes, contenting themselves with scraps. A couple of lappet-faced vultures made their presence known, as well as some relatively rare whiteheaded vultures. They gorged themselves for a few days, until only the larger bones and the skull remained.
One vulture makes its presence known as he lands on another, digging claws into the feathers and exposed neck.
The subordinate vulture reacts by trying to shake off the attacker. Shortly afterwards, the lower vulture limped away from the carcass leaving space for the large one to feed.
Driving past the site today, only a few vulture feathers drift in the breeze, while the steadily bleaching bones glint in the sun, a stark reminder of the savage nature of life in the bush.
Written and Photographed by: James Tyrrell
Love it! All of the collective nouns are amusing…a dazzle of zebra, a gaggle of geese, a murder of crows (Edgar Allen Poe would LOVE that)…and my personal favorite, a crash of rhinos!!! LOL!!!
Thanks, keep them coming! My fourth graders love them!! 🙂
Awesome shots JT, picture No4 in particular.
Thanks bud, also my favourite of the bunch…
Nice 1 James! Those Sparta females are insain lions…think they’re pretty good at hunting giraffe when they want to!
Great photos and story… Thanks.
Question: how often are you seeing the Whiteheaded Vulture in your area?
Are they very localised to the SW of the greater KNP area?
Just curious as still wanting to Tick that one off…!!!
Cheers
Gavin we do indeed see whiteheaded vultures here, although they are far rarer than the hooded and whitebacked varieties that tend to dominate at the carcasses…
I’d say we see them maybe once or twice a month.
As far as being localized to the South West, I’m not 100% sure so will have to get back to you on that one.