Hundreds of vultures have made The Ridges and surrounding Athens areas their home this November because their migration south brings them to Athens. In recent years, the overall population of vultures has been increasing.
Ohio University students may see hundreds of vultures hovering above as their feet drag behind them on their walk to finals.
But it’s not the stench of burnt-out students' minds that is attracting these birds.
Hundreds of vultures have made The Ridges and surrounding Athens area their home this winter because their migration south brings them to Athens. In recent years, the overall population of vultures year-round has also been increasing, local ornithologist Donald Miles said.
“(It’s) a consequence of migrants moving south to their winter grounds and an increasing number of individuals overwintering in Southern Ohio,” Miles, an expert in birds in OU's Department of Biological Sciences, said.
Miles attributed the increase in vultures this season to the migration path.
“Black Vultures have been increasing in abundance over the past decade,” Miles said.
Stefan Gleissberg, editor of the Ohio Ornithological Society's newsletter, also said more Turkey Vultures seem to be flocking to Athens in the winter, possibly from northern populations.
Both species can be found hanging out at The Ridges together, he said.
“It is true that Black Vultures seem to prefer hanging around the old Ridges buildings,” Gleissberg said.
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Groups of vultures can be found in other areas in Athens as well.
Recently, Gleissberg captured a photo of 284 vultures in one picture Nov. 25. He said areas around Village Bakery and the East Elementary school yard are good spots to see large flocks, especially on sunny afternoons. Gleissberg’s highest count of Turkey Vultures in Athens was 350 on Dec. 10, 2014.
Phil Cantino, a retired emeritus professor of environmental and plant biology, said while the population of vultures is big at The Ridges, more tend to flock toward east-facing slopes of North Hill that overlook Grosvenor Street and Franklin Avenue.
He said that is due to a flock of vultures roosting each night at those locations. Cantino also said Turkey Vultures used to be the only species of the bird in Athens. Black Vultures were first spotted at Dow Lake in 1999 and their population has been steadily increasing since then, Cantino said.
Cantino said Black Vultures have a dark grey head, short tails and white marks near the tip of each wing. He added that they “flap more and soar less” than Turkey Vultures, which have red heads, longer tails and don’t have the white mark on their wings. Cantino added that Turkey Vultures are masters of soaring, using the wind currents to “soar for hours with barely any flapping."
“The northward spread of Black Vultures is presumably related to the warming climate,” Cantino said. “Similarly, Turkey Vultures are now common here all winter.”
Students have noticed the increase of the bird's population as well.
Caroline Raley, a sophomore studying communication sciences and disorders, said her mom first pointed the vultures out during her freshman year while moving into her dorm.
"I thought it was kind of creepy," Raley said.
Now, every time she looks at The Ridges, she sees a lot of vultures hanging around.
"I see them perched on top of the main building," Raley said.
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