"It's been fantastic weather to be out and seeing the sights," says David Dudeck, a regular contributor of photos to the Trail Times.
"A favourite destination is the Trail airport ... As usual, there were lots of birds around including turkey vultures."
As summer warms the Kootenay region, a familiar figure has returned to local skies: the turkey vulture.
These large scavengers, easily recognized by their broad wings held in a shallow “V” and their slow, soaring flight, are the only species of vulture found in British Columbia.
According to the Province of B.C., turkey vultures are seasonal migrants that arrive in the southern regions of the province to breed, including the valleys and open landscapes of the Kootenays.
They are often spotted gliding over the Kootenay River valley or riding thermal updrafts above Kootenay Lake and its surrounding slopes.
Their preference for open or semi-open areas with nearby cliffs or forest edges makes the Kootenay region ideal nesting and foraging territory.
Turkey vultures feed almost exclusively on carrion and rely on their exceptional sense of smell to locate food, a rare trait among birds.
The B.C. government highlights their ecological role as essential to the environment, helping to naturally clean up animal remains and reduce the spread of disease.
Nesting occurs from April through August, typically in caves, on rocky ledges, or inside hollow trees.
The turkey vulture does not build a traditional nest but instead lays eggs directly onto the protected surface.
The Ministry of Environment notes that British Columbia supports a modest but stable population, estimated between 1,000 and 2,500 birds.
Though they are common during the summer months, the vultures migrate south to Central and South America each fall as temperatures drop and food becomes scarce.
With wingspans reaching up to 1.8 metres, these birds are among the largest commonly seen in the province.
Their distinctive red, bald heads and dark feathers make them easy to identify, though often mistaken for eagles or hawks from a distance.
Residents and visitors hoping to spot a turkey vulture are encouraged to watch the skies over open fields, roadways, or along cliffs during the warmer parts of the day when thermals lift the birds aloft.
Their flight is almost effortless, with very little wing-flapping, a key identifier.
For more information on turkey vultures in British Columbia, visit the province’s online wildlife species inventory at www2.gov.bc.ca.
Sources: Government of British Columbia – Wildlife Species Information; Kootenay Lake Partnership – Exploring Kootenay Lake; BC Nature and Bird Atlas of British Columbia.
