In a large deciduous tree at the edge of our yard in Ellicott City yesterday
there were 3 Black Vultures.  While I watched them, two appeared to engage
in mating with one on top of the other flapping its wings a lot.  Those two
stopped while a 4th vulture flew in and then 2 of the vultures (one of the
mating pair and the last to fly in) flew away.  The remaining 2 sat there
for awhile but I stopped watching before they left.  We often see both
Turkey and Black Vultures overhead but have never seen them in any trees
within our neighborhood.

I recall in a meeting during the Breeding Bird Atlas that it's difficult to
find proof of breeding of vultures unless you already know where they are
nesting because they generally nest in out-of-the-way old buildings and they
mate in those areas.

Is my memory of the info from that meeting wrong or did I have the fortune
of witnessing something out of the ordinary?

Thanks for any information,
Dianne Aguilera
Ellicott City, MD
Howard County Bird Club

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