Birding Bond

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• RichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.

  May 2017 Posts: 13,767

  Boat-tailed grackle (or Mexican grackle, aka chanate or zanate): local legend says the bird sings seven songs for seven passions: Love, Hate, Fear, Courage, Joy, Sadness, and Anger. All stolen from the sea turtle.
  
  As Maria mulata: known as the bird of Cartagena, Columbia. Local artist Enrique Grau fed a celebration of the bird to honor its “intelligence, adaptability, cheerfulness, sociability and collaborative tendencies, diligence, craftiness, and ability to take advantage of adversity.” Reports wiki.
  
  
  
  
• CommanderRoss The bottom of a pitch lake in Eastern Trinidad, place called La Brea

  May 2017 Posts: 8,244

  Epic! and what wonderfull birds! found them on Youtube too:
  
• RichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.

  May 2017 Posts: 13,767

  Thunderbird - 'thuhn-der-burd/ - noun
  1. Native American mythical creature, an enormous eagle controlling lightning, thunder, rain
  2. model of automobile manufactured by Ford Motor Company
  Western forms follow. Middle English (thonder, thunder, thondren). Old English (thunor, thunrian). Dutch (donder). German (Donner). Old Norse (thōrr or Thor, as thunder). Latin (tonāre).
  Middle English (byrd, bryd). Old English (bridd).
  
  Algonquian Thunderbird: controller of the upper world (underworld controlled by a horned serpent). Creator of lightning, plus thunder with its wingbeats. The X-form, face forward, is standard.
  Menominee Thunderbird: as live in the floating mountain of the western sky. Controllers of rain and hail, fighters against good things. Defeaters of great horned snakes, who would otherwise consume man and take over the world. Messengers of the Great Sun.
  Ojibwe Thunderbird: fighters of underwater spirits, from their creator Nanabozho. Punishers of human wrong-doers. Migrator with other birds.
  Winnebago Thunderbird: in dreams, omen of a future chieftain.
  
  Examples of Native American Thunderbird and eagle styles.
  
  Images available become a mix of traditional and modern (includes tattoo) art
  
  
• RichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.

  May 2017 edited May 2017 Posts: 13,767

  Thunderbird: the name as used by the Ford Motor Company since 1955 for their classic
  and current Ford Thunderbird models, currently on their 11th.
  
  
  
  Disclaimer: which is not a Pontiac Firebird (that, actually a phoenix).
  
  Nor a Trans Am or Firehawk variation.
  
• RichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.

  May 2017 edited May 2017 Posts: 13,767

  Ford Thunderbird logo circa 1950s.
  

  Thrilling Cities, Ian Fleming, 1963.
  Chapter V - Los Angeles and Las Vegas
  That evening I had an excellent dinner at the Thunderbird and then a crack at the black-jack at the Desert Inn, by far the nicest hotel in Las Vegas and full of action.
  
  Chapter X - Vienna
  …
  I drive a Thunderbird. I make no apologies. I bought my first, the lovely two-seater, four years ago and it did 50,000 fast miles without so much as a bulb fusing. So I bought another, the four-seater, and it had only done 1,000 miles when I started from Ostend. Blithely I had ordered all the gimmicks--automatic gears, power steering, power brakes--and at first I hated and feared these devices which seemed to give the car power over the driver instead of the other way round. But by now I was already used to them, and I had regained authority over the fifty-horse-power, seven-litre engine, and could almost--you never quite can with these damnable 'aids'--make the car do what I wanted.
  Of course it is a marvellous car for fast touring--very comfortable, roomy, and as quick as hell. Ninety miles an hour with a reserve of thirty was a comfortable touring speed on the autobahns, and the kilometres clicked by like the leaves of a book until one could gratefully drift off into the winding side roads of the countryside chosen for luncheon or the night. For that is the way to treat the autobahn--as the quickest way between beautiful places off the beaten track. That day I did Hamburg to Kassel for luncheon and then slipped off on to the 'romantic' road from Bad Herzfeld to Würzburg, Rothenburg, Dinkelsbühl and Augsburg, staying the night in the heart of this beautiful region.

  

  Diamonds Are Forever, Ian Fleming, 1956. [So Felix might not so easily approve.]
  "Well I'll be damned," said Bond incredulously. "But what sort of a car is this anyway? Isn't it a Studebaker?"
  "Studillac," said Leiter. "Studebaker with a Cadillac engine. Special transmission and brakes and rear axle. Conversion job. A small firm near New York turns them out. Only a few, but they're a damn sight better sports car than those Corvettes and Thunderbirds…”

  

  The Spy Who Love Me, Ian Fleming, 1963.
  We came to the car. It was a dark gray two-seater Thunderbird with a soft top in cream, a beautiful thing. I said so. He said shortly that it was hired. He said, "Come round the other side. Just seem to be admiring the car." He leaned down and opened the low door and rummaged inside. He said, "Are they both armed?"
  "Yes."
  How far would it have gone with the wind to help it? Ten miles? Twenty? How many trees and birds and animals would the little dead girl from Quebec have destroyed? Another cabin roof fell in, and there was the same great shower of orange sparks. And now the gimcrack timbered roof of the lobby block was going. It caved slowly inward and then collapsed like a badly cooked soufflé, and more showers of sparks went up gaily and burned themselves out as they briefly drifted away on the wind. The extra burst of flame showed up the two cars beside the road, the gray Thunderbird and the shining black sedan. But there was still no sign of the gangsters and none of James Bond.

  

  The Man with the Golden Gun, Ian Fleming, 1965.
  ORIGINS: A relative of the Catalan family of circus managers of the same name with whom he spent his youth. Self-educated. At the age of 16 (after the incident described below under MOTIVATION) emigrated illegally to the United States where he lived a life of petty crime on the fringes of the gangs until he graduated as a full-time gunman for The Spangled Mob in Nevada with the cover of pitboy in the casino of the Tiara Hotel in Las Vegas where in fact he acted as executioner of cheats and other transgressors within and outside The Mob. In 1958 was forced to flee the States as the result of a famous duel against his opposite number for the Detroit Purple Gang, a certain Ramon "The Rod" Rodriguez, which took place by moonlight on the third green of the Thunderbird golf course at Las Vegas. (Scaramanga got two bullets into the heart of his opponent before the latter had fired a shot. Distance 20 paces.) Believed to have been compensated by The Mob with $100,000. Travelled the whole Caribbean area investing fugitive funds for various Las Vegas interests and later, as his reputation for keen and successful dealing in real estate and plantations became consolidated, for Trujillo of the Dominican Republic and Batista of Cuba. In 1959 settled in Havana and, seeing the way the wind blew, while remaining ostensibly a Batista man, began working undercover for the Castro party, and after the revolution, obtained an influential post as foreign "enforcer" for the D.S.S. In this capacity, on behalf, that is, of the Cuban secret police, he undertook the assassinations mentioned above.
  …
  The first thing to do was to clean up his cover. The diplomatic passport he would leave with Goodnight. He would now be "Mark Hazard" of the "Transworld Consortium," the splendidly vague title which could cover almost any kind of human activity. His business would have to be with the West Indian Sugar Company because that was the only business, apart from Kaiser Bauxite, that existed in the comparatively deserted western districts of Jamaica. And, at Negril, there was also the project for developing one of the most spectacular beaches in the world, beginning with the building of the Thunderbird Hotel. He could be a rich man looking around for a building site. If his hunch and the childish predictions of his horoscope were right, and he came up with Scaramanga at the romantic Love Lane address, it would be a question of playing it by ear.
  …
  Bond said, "Thanks, Tiffy. See Mother Edna puts a good hex on him. I'll tell you why someday. I hope. 'Bye!" He went quickly out and down into the street, where a red Thunderbird convertible was waiting, its exhaust making a noise like an expensive motorboat. The chauffeur was a Jamaican, smartly dressed, with a peaked cap. A red pennant on the wireless aerial said THUNDERBIRD HOTEL in gold. Scaramanga was sitting beside the chauffeur. He said impatiently, "Get in the back and we'll give you a lift down to your car. Then follow along. It gets a good road after a while."

  
• RichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.

  May 2017 edited May 2017 Posts: 13,767

  Goldfinger, 1964.
  1964 Ford Thunderbird Convertible. Felix Leiter and partner supporting Bond in Kentucky.
  IMCDB: imcdb.org/vehicle_2354-Ford-Thunderbird-76A-1964.html
  
  

  Thunderball, 1965.
  1965 Ford Thunderbird Convertible. Emilio Largo arrives at the SPECTRE meeting in Paris.
  IMCDB: imcdb.org/vehicle_19079-Ford-Thunderbird-76A-1965.html
  

  Diamonds Are Forever, 1971
  1961 Ford Thunderbird Hardtop Coupé. Deleted scene, Vegas.
  IMCDB: http://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_383625-Ford-Thunderbird-63A-1961.html
  
  
  1971 Ford Thunderbird Landau Coupé. Wint and Kidd take OO7 for a ride.
  IMCDB: imcdb.org/vehicle_18485-Ford-Thunderbird-Landau-1971.html
  

  A View to a Kill, 1985
  1983 Ford Thunderbird 'Exterior Accent' Coupé. General Gogol tails Bond and Pola Ivanova.
  IMCDB: imcdb.org/vehicle_195719-Ford-Thunderbird-1983.html
  And as advertised in 1985.
  
• RichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.

  May 2017 Posts: 13,767

  Die Another Day, 2002
  2002 Ford Thunderbird Coupé. Jinx Jones' ride at the Ice Palace.
  IMCDB: http://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_2224-Ford-Thunderbird-2002.html
  http://www.glitter.si/wp-content/uploads/Bond_05inline_405.jpg

  2003 Ford Thunderbird OO7 Edition
  
  
  A special edition like this begs the appropriate plate and frame.
  
  Halle Berry has (or had) one in black. I like.
  
  
  Small shakes compared to her black Aston Martin. She already had my respect, this just piles on.
  
• RichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.

  May 2017 Posts: 13,767

  The Thunderbirds air demonstration unit was established 1953
  by the United States Air Force, using various jets over the years.
  F-84G Thunderjet built by Republic Aviation
  
  F-84F Thunderstreak
  
  
  F-105B Thunderchief
  
  
  Mirror pass by more modern Thunderbirds.
  
  
  British 60s-era television program Thunderbirds had Bond veteran special effects expert Derek Meddings on board. No relation.
  
• RichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.

  May 2017 Posts: 13,767

  There is also the infamous intoxicant known as Thunderbird, a product of Ripple Wines. Advertised as a fortified wine or apéritif, it’s commonly known as “bum wine” and a notoriously cheap drunk (alongside Mad Dog 20/20, Night Train Express, Richard’s Wild Irish Rose, and others). As described in American pop culture, it's sort of the American equivalent of Phu Yuk.
  
  
  
  
  Wrote Townes Van Zandt:
  Among the strangest things I ever heard
  Was when a friend of mine said "Man, let's get some Thunderbird"
  I said "What's that?" he just started to grin
  Slobbered on his shirt, his eyes got dim
  He said "You got fifty-nine cents?"
  
  I said "Yeah, I got a dollar, but don't be a smartalec
  I ain't gonna spend it on no Indian relic"
  And he said "Thunderbird's not an old Indian trinket,
  It's a wine, man, you take it home and drink it."
  I said "It sure don't sound like wine to me"
  And he said he'd bet me the change from my dollar...
  
  No worries, it ends well.
• RichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.

  May 2017 Posts: 13,767

  The car and the adult beverage inspired some classic songwriting along the way.
  
  Townes Van Zandt, "Talkin' Thunderbird Blues"
  
  Billy Joe Shaver, "When the Word Was Thunderbird"
  
  Marc Cohn, "Silver Thunderbird"
  
  John Hiatt, "Thunderbird"
  
  Chuck Berry, "Thunderbird and Jaguar"
  
  The Delicates, "Black and White Thunderbird"
  
• RichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.

  May 2017 Posts: 13,767

  I'm a Chevy man that drives a VW.
  
  Did own a basic 80s-era V6 Camaro, nothing special. Had a blast in '81-82 driving my brother's 1981 Pontiac Trans Am (dark blue, no bird on the hood, but very noticeable with the hood scoop) all over the place. A friend had a '78, silver.
  
  The 1969 Pontiac Firebird, to me that's the jewel of those mentioned. A very beautiful automobile.
  
  At one time my dream was to possess a Chevrolet Cosworth (V-8) Vega. How times change.
  
• RichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.

  May 2017 edited May 2017 Posts: 13,767

  And so, following the Thunderbird with another mythical creature.
  First with a smart cover design from New American Library publishers.
  
• RichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.

  May 2017 Posts: 13,767

  The first copy I bought was this paperback. I was pretty impressed, and got to the others later.
  Meaning, collected other editions of the same Fleming book.
  
• 0BradyM0Bondfanatic7 Quantum Floral Arrangements: "We Have Petals Everywhere"

  May 2017 Posts: 28,694

  There's gotta be a thread here for sharing our favorite vintage Bond covers. If there isn't, we need one.
• Agent_99 enjoys a spirited ride as much as the next girl

  May 2017 Posts: 3,176

  Oh, yes, we do!
• RichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.

  May 2017 edited May 2017 Posts: 13,767

  Griffin - ˈɡrif·ən/ - noun
  1. creature of myth, half eagle (head, wings, front talons), half lion (body)
  Old French (grifoun). Latin (gryphus). Greek (γρύψ, grýps grups, grup γρύφων, grýphōn, or γρύπων, grýpōn).
  
  Griffin (Gryphus, also Griffon, Gryphon): already described above as part lion; part eagle. Notice the combination of the eagle (king of birds) and lion (king of beasts)—therefore the Griffin takes on that stature, a king of earthly creatures. Guardian of treasures, especially gold. Said to lay eggs in nests containing nuggets of gold.
  
  Heraldic Griffin: front legs of an eagle.
  
  Opinicus has four lion legs, a more camel type neck and tail.
  
  Without wings known as an Alce or Keythong, a Male Griffin.
  
  In folklore, Adrienne Mayor suggested the source of the Griffin as a misunderstanding of Protoceratops, based on fossils found in gold mines.
  
  Regardless, the Griffin symbolizes a powerful guardian of divinity.
  
• RichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.

  May 2017 edited May 2017 Posts: 13,767

  Images of Griffins date to 3000 B.C. in ancient Iran and Egypt.
  
  Egypt examples (3300-3100 B.C.).
  
  Ancient Greece (1400 B.C.), frescoes—an ongoing favorite for Greek Classical art.
  
  Griffin segreant wearing the mural crown of Perugia, 13th century
  
  
  Soldier fights Griffin, 'Alphonso' Psalter, 13th Century.
  
  Martin Schongauer etching: The Griffin, 15th Century
  
  Bronze sculpture Pisa Griffin held in Italy from the Middle Ages, origins in Arab Spain.
  A replica appears on the Pisa Cathedral.
  
• RichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.

  May 2017 Posts: 13,767

  

  On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, Ian Fleming, 1963.
  Chapter 6 – Bond of Bond Street?
  She giggled unprofessionally. 'It sounds fairly peaceful, as peaceful as a hurry message from upstairs can be. You're to go at once to the College of Arms and ask for Griffon Or.'
  …
  The College of Arms is in Queen Victoria Street on the fringe of the City. It is a pleasant little Queen Anne backwater in ancient red brick with white sashed windows and a convenient cobbled courtyard, where Bond parked his car. There are horseshoe-shaped stone stairs leading up to an impressive entrance, over which, that day, there hung a banner showing a splendid heraldic beast, half animal and half bird, in gold against a pale blue background. Griffon, thought Bond. Made of Or. He went through the door into a large gloomy hall whose dark panelling was lined with the musty portraits of proud-looking gentlemen in ruffs and lace, and from whose cornice hung the banners of the Commonwealth. The porter, a kindly, soft-spoken man in a cherry-coloured uniform with brass buttons, asked Bond what he could do for him. Bond asked for the Griffon Or and confirmed that he had an appointment.
  'Ah yes, sir,' said the porter mysteriously.' Griffon Or is in waiting this week. That is why his banner is flying outside. This way please, sir.'
  Bond followed the porter along a passage hung with gleaming coats of arms in carved wood, up a dank, cobwebby staircase, and round a corner to a heavy door over which was written in gold 'Griffon Or Pursuivant' under a representation of the said golden griffon.
  
  
  Chapter 7 - The Hairy Heel of Achilles
  JAMES BOND'S heart was still in his boots as he was conducted again through the musty corridors. Sable Basilisk indeed! What kind of a besotted old fogy would this be?
  There came another heavy door with the name in gold and this time with a nightmare black monster, with a vicious beak, above it. But now Bond was shown into a light, clean, pleasantly furnished room with attractive prints on the walls and meticulous order among its books. There was a faint smell of Turkish tobacco. A young man, a few years younger than Bond, got up and came across the room to meet him. He was rapier-slim, with a fine, thin, studious face that was saved from seriousness by wry lines at the edges of the mouth and an ironical glint in the level eyes.
  'Commander Bond?' The handshake was brief and firm. ' I'd been expecting you. How did you get into the claws of our dear Griffon? He's a bit of an enthusiast, I'm afraid. We all are here, of course. But he's getting on. Nice chap, but he's a bit dedicated, if you know what I mean.'

  
  
• RichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.

  May 2017 edited May 2017 Posts: 13,767

  

  Screen sightings: Bernard Lee’s M kept a polished brass Griffin on his desk at MI6.
  
  From Russia With Love
  http://screenmusings.org/movie/dvd/From-Russia-With-Love/pages/From-Russia-With-Love-100.htm
  http://screenmusings.org/movie/dvd/From-Russia-With-Love/pages/From-Russia-With-Love-101.htm
  Goldfinger
  http://screenmusings.org/movie/blu-ray/Goldfinger/pages/Goldfinger-213.htm
  You Only Live Twice
  http://screenmusings.org/movie/blu-ray/You-Only-Live-Twice/pages/You-Only-Live-Twice-103.htm
  http://screenmusings.org/movie/blu-ray/You-Only-Live-Twice/pages/You-Only-Live-Twice-101.htm
  On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (notice the brass sculpture on the desk, plus one on either side of the globe screen upper left, total of three.)
  http://screenmusings.org/movie/blu-ray/On-Her-Majestys-Secret-Service/pages/On-Her-Majestys-Secret-Service-0012.htm
  The Man With the Golden Gun
  http://screenmusings.org/movie/dvd/The-Man-With-the-Golden-Gun/pages/The-Man-With-the-Golden-Gun-083.htm
  Moonraker
  https://jajreviews.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/vlcsnap-2012-10-17-19h37m34s243.png
  For Your Eyes Only-- very noticeable in this shot with Tanner, and the first EON Bond film lacking Mr. Lee.
  http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/james-bond-007/images/7/7d/For-Your-Eyes-Only-0277.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20151102171111
• RichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.

  May 2017 edited May 2017 Posts: 13,767

  In On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, 1969, the dialog from Bond as Sir Hillary Bray touches on heraldry:
  
  Now, when we authorise a coat of arms, it can include all sorts of funny things. Crescent moons, portcullises, beasts couchant and rampant…bars, bezants...

  Cresent moons
  
  Portucullises
  
  Bars
  
  Bezants
  
  Where beasts are concerned, here are griffin examples.
  
  Griffin Statant Guardant (standing, face toward viewer)
  
  A Griffin Segreant (or rampant, Old French: to rear up)
  
  Griffin Rampant Regardant (rearing up, looking back over shoulder)
  
  Griffin Passant (Old French: to stride, walk; one paw raised)
  
  Griffin Statant (standing, all fours)
  
  Griffin Sejant (Middle French, to sit, four paws down)
  
  Griffin Couchant (Old French, lying)
  
  
  Sleeping Griffin, John Tenniel, Alice in Wonderland.
  
• RichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.

  May 2017 edited June 2017 Posts: 13,767

  Griffins behind the scenes.
  
  Moby Griffin...Underwater team – Moonraker; Boatmaster – Never Say Never Again.
  
  Steve Griffin...Specialist driver; Stunts - Goldeneye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough.
  
  Andy Griffin...Sound assistant (uncredited) - Tomorrow Never Dies.
  
  Cyril C. Griffin...Boom operator: Bahamas; Production assistant: sound - Casino Royale.
  
  Gareth Griffin...Locations runner (uncredited) – Skyfall.
  
• RichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.

  May 2017 Posts: 13,767

  CommanderRoss wrote: »

  ...Not a bird completely, but the hovercraft is aparently a Griffon, in DAD.

  Catching up, here's what you brought to the table as the Griffon, @CommanderRoss.
  
  For Bond films, Hovercraft first appeared in Diamonds Are Forever, 1971, using the Seaspeed Channel service from Dover to Calais and Boulogne-sur-Mer, France. Specifically an SR-N4 hovercraft (The Princess Margaret, rather than the Princess Anne) appeared on screen.
  
  https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0Px6V5zWo-c/UtUld34EtUI/AAAAAAAAC70/xt0eHmi3Edo/s1600/Seaspeed.jpg
  
  Die Another Day, 2002, upped the ante from transport to high action with the Griffon 2000TD hovercraft.
  http://www.thelegendofq.co.uk/uploads/1/4/8/3/14831570/1485428_orig.png
  imcdb.org/i197097.jpg
  
  
  Griffon 2000TD hovercraft, known to the military as the LCAC/Landing Craft Air Cushion.
  Built by Griffon Hoverwork, United Kingdom, these specialize in amphibious assault activity but also disaster response, humanitarian relief, rescue actions. Keeping the British end up. And then some.
  
  
  Swedish Coast Guard.
  
  Commercial use, global transporter Crowley.
  
  All have their applications.
  
  
• CommanderRoss The bottom of a pitch lake in Eastern Trinidad, place called La Brea

  May 2017 Posts: 8,244

  pretty cool those. Odd looking birds for sure ;-)
• Agent_99 enjoys a spirited ride as much as the next girl

  May 2017 Posts: 3,176

  I love hovercraft and wish there were more of them about. Sadly, the only current UK service (I believe) is the one that runs from Portsmouth to the Isle of Wight. I was on it with a friend a few years ago when he got a phone call, which he answered, delightfully: "Hello? What? No, I'm on a hovercraft!"
  
  Other great British icons in hovercraft (posted this before but love it to pieces):
  
  
• RichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.

  May 2017 edited May 2017 Posts: 13,767

  I have a little experience with these in the military, in use to literally move supplies and equipment over the shore.
  
  Should have given proper recognition to Griffon Hoverwork, of course their logo is of interest. Buy British!
  
• Agent_99 enjoys a spirited ride as much as the next girl

  May 2017 Posts: 3,176

  'The Bland Group'. Now there's a cover name designed to avert suspicion, if ever I heard one.
• RichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.

  May 2017 edited June 2017 Posts: 13,767

  
  
  The Bland Group. Established 1810.
  
  
  
  "Hover" (to linger in a place/space) as a cryptic euphemism.
  
  So, yeah, I'm thinking time travel. The Doctor is no joke.
  
  
  
  Nothing to see here! Move along!
  
• Robertson

  May 2017 Posts: 170

  RichardTheBruce wrote: »

  I have a little experience with these in the military, in use to literally move supplies and equipment over the shore.

  
  What an absolutely exciting military career. Did you participate in Grenada? I'm thinking no.
  
  
• RichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.

  May 2017 edited May 2017 Posts: 13,767

  No, I entered the service 2 years after Grenada. Not the the tip of the spear, I had a very technical job in logistics support as a Quartermaster. And yes--yes, I did.
  
  Interesting you mention Grenada. Its coat of arms includes the (endangered) Grenada dove in front of a banana plant (opposite an armadillo in front of a cornstalk).
  
  
• RichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.

  May 2017 Posts: 13,767

  Vulture - ˈvəl chər/ - noun
  1. a large scavenger bird
  2. an exploiter of the weaknesses of others
  Anglo-Norman French (vulture). Latin (vulturius). German (geier). Hebrew (geyer, or peddler). Vultures: birds of prey that feed on carrion, or in rare instances kill the weak or sickly. Old World vultures depend on sight to find food; conversely, New World vultures have a keen sense of smell. Gorgers of food while it’s available. Don’t carry food to their nesting young, instead regurgitate stomach contents for re-ingestion. Digestively predisposed to allow consumption of harmful substances (botulism, cholera, anthrax), removing those threats from the natural environment. May vomit when approached, as assisting a hasty departure (lightening the takeoff load, and as misdirection to the approacher). Urinate down their own lower parts to kill bacteria and cool themselves.
  
  So overall, pretty charming creatures. Also patient: may wait for their next meal to die, or even allow other predators to dine first when they need assistance piercing a carcass. Groups are alternately called wakes (feeding), committees (roosting), kettles (flying), and venues or volts (generally applied).
  
  Old World forms (Gypaetinae, Aegypiinae): Cinereous vulture (Aegypius monachus), Griffon vulture or Eurasian griffon (Gyps fulvus), White-rumped vulture (Gyps bengalensis), Rüppell's griffon vulture (Gyps rueppelli), Indian vulture (Gyps indicus), Slender-billed vulture (Gyps tenuirostris), Himalayan vulture (Gyps himalayensis), White-backed vulture (Gyps africanus), Cape vulture, (Gyps coprotheres), Hooded vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus), Red-headed vulture (Sarcogyps calvus), Lappet-faced vulture (Torgos tracheliotos) White-headed vulture, (Trigonoceps occipitalis), Bearded vulture or Lammergeier (Gypaetus barbatus), Egyptian vulture or White scavenger vulture or Pharaoh’s chicken (Neophron percnopterus), Palm-nut vulture (Gypohierax angolensis).
  
  New World species in the Americas (appear under the broad umbrella of Accipitriformes): Black vulture (Coragyps atratus), Turkey vulture (Cathartes), Lesser yellow-headed vulture (Cathartes burrovianus), Greater yellow-headed vulture (Cathartes melambrotus), California condor(Gymnogyps californianus), Andean condor (Vultur gryphus), King vulture (Sarcoramphus papa).
  
  Rüppell's griffon vulture
  
  White-backed vulture
  
  White-headed vulture
  
  Egyptian vulture or White scavenger vulture or Pharaoh’s chicken
  
  California condor
  
  
  King vulture
  
  King Features vulture