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Buzzard Elevator
Aug 4, 2022 00:02:20   #
Reuss Griffiths Loc: Ravenna, Ohio
 
The following picture is a horrible example of what good photography should be. It's just a documentary picture to show the buzzard elevator in action.

Across the street from my house is a 5 acre lake. In the morning, the suns rays are absorbed by the dark waters which warms them. The air above the lake becomes warmer and rises. But it just doesn't rise, it builds up until it forms a big bubble of warm air and then breaks free from the surface of the lake. And it just doesn't rise as a bubble but more like a huge donut, rolling inside to outside kind of like a giant blew a smoke ring up into the sky. All this is invisible to the eye.

Turkey vultures can sense this rising donut, probably by feeling the uplift on their wings. Maybe that's one of their superpowers. They fly over to the rising donut at about 50-70 ft off the ground and then start circling around the edge and lets it lift them up with it. As they slowly circle around the donut they keep getting higher and higher. When they reach 500 - 1000 ft they break off and glide away looking for their next meal. And that's how they spend their day, gliding around until they start to lose altitude and occasionally finding another updraft. When they find lunch, the process starts all over again.

Four turkey vultures riding the buzzard elevator
Four turkey vultures riding the buzzard elevator...
(Download)

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Aug 4, 2022 05:28:32   #
gmontjr2350 Loc: Southern NJ
 
That is so cool! Thanks for that info.

George

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Aug 4, 2022 12:46:00   #
UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT
 
Good shot and narrative, Reuss! Thanks for sharing.

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Aug 5, 2022 07:22:23   #
J-SPEIGHT Loc: Akron, Ohio
 
Reuss Griffiths wrote:
The following picture is a horrible example of what good photography should be. It's just a documentary picture to show the buzzard elevator in action.

Across the street from my house is a 5 acre lake. In the morning, the suns rays are absorbed by the dark waters which warms them. The air above the lake becomes warmer and rises. But it just doesn't rise, it builds up until it forms a big bubble of warm air and then breaks free from the surface of the lake. And it just doesn't rise as a bubble but more like a huge donut, rolling inside to outside kind of like a giant blew a smoke ring up into the sky. All this is invisible to the eye.

Turkey vultures can sense this rising donut, probably by feeling the uplift on their wings. Maybe that's one of their superpowers. They fly over to the rising donut at about 50-70 ft off the ground and then start circling around the edge and lets it lift them up with it. As they slowly circle around the donut they keep getting higher and higher. When they reach 500 - 1000 ft they break off and glide away looking for their next meal. And that's how they spend their day, gliding around until they start to lose altitude and occasionally finding another updraft. When they find lunch, the process starts all over again.
The following picture is a horrible example of wha... (show quote)



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Aug 5, 2022 07:35:18   #
Reuss Griffiths Loc: Ravenna, Ohio
 
Thanks everyone for your comments. Not sure this was in the right category. Might have been better placed in the Non-photography chit-chat section. Most mornings I sit on my front deck, drink my coffee on my front deck and watch the world go by and this is part of it.

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Aug 5, 2022 09:58:41   #
Wasabi
 
Interesting world it is. Maybe an infra-red camera would show that bubble? Fun to see it.

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Aug 5, 2022 11:45:25   #
Mustanger Loc: Grants Pass, Oregon USA
 
Wonder if it could be Methane gas?

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Aug 5, 2022 12:08:02   #
Bob Yankle Loc: Burlington, NC
 
This is a fine example of where 1,000 words are worth one photograph (which, as a standalone image, would not have piqued my interest nearly as much as the narrative).

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Aug 5, 2022 12:42:08   #
bwana Loc: Bergen, Alberta, Canada
 
Reuss Griffiths wrote:
The following picture is a horrible example of what good photography should be. It's just a documentary picture to show the buzzard elevator in action.

Across the street from my house is a 5 acre lake. In the morning, the suns rays are absorbed by the dark waters which warms them. The air above the lake becomes warmer and rises. But it just doesn't rise, it builds up until it forms a big bubble of warm air and then breaks free from the surface of the lake. And it just doesn't rise as a bubble but more like a huge donut, rolling inside to outside kind of like a giant blew a smoke ring up into the sky. All this is invisible to the eye.

Turkey vultures can sense this rising donut, probably by feeling the uplift on their wings. Maybe that's one of their superpowers. They fly over to the rising donut at about 50-70 ft off the ground and then start circling around the edge and lets it lift them up with it. As they slowly circle around the donut they keep getting higher and higher. When they reach 500 - 1000 ft they break off and glide away looking for their next meal. And that's how they spend their day, gliding around until they start to lose altitude and occasionally finding another updraft. When they find lunch, the process starts all over again.
The following picture is a horrible example of wha... (show quote)

Sandhill Cranes use the same approach to gaining elevation and staying aloft. Probably a few other birds also use this approach.

As a former glider pilot, I've used the same approach to prolong an outing.

bwa

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Aug 5, 2022 16:01:39   #
Boris77
 
Reuss Griffiths wrote:
The following picture is a horrible example of what good photography should be. It's just a documentary picture to show the buzzard elevator in action.

Across the street from my house is a 5 acre lake. In the morning, the suns rays are absorbed by the dark waters which warms them. The air above the lake becomes warmer and rises. But it just doesn't rise, it builds up until it forms a big bubble of warm air and then breaks free from the surface of the lake. And it just doesn't rise as a bubble but more like a huge donut, rolling inside to outside kind of like a giant blew a smoke ring up into the sky. All this is invisible to the eye.

Turkey vultures can sense this rising donut, probably by feeling the uplift on their wings. Maybe that's one of their superpowers. They fly over to the rising donut at about 50-70 ft off the ground and then start circling around the edge and lets it lift them up with it. As they slowly circle around the donut they keep getting higher and higher. When they reach 500 - 1000 ft they break off and glide away looking for their next meal. And that's how they spend their day, gliding around until they start to lose altitude and occasionally finding another updraft. When they find lunch, the process starts all over again.
The following picture is a horrible example of wha... (show quote)


A modest photograph uplifted by a very interesting story
(especially to a city person who has never heard of this lake phenomenon).
Boris

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Aug 5, 2022 17:19:53   #
PhotogHobbyist Loc: Bradford, PA
 
A very interesting story and photo. Thank you for posting.

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Aug 5, 2022 17:44:32   #
Reuss Griffiths Loc: Ravenna, Ohio
 
Bob Yankle wrote:
This is a fine example of where 1,000 words are worth one photograph (which, as a standalone image, would not have piqued my interest nearly as much as the narrative).


You're absolutely right about the words. I started out saying it was a horrible picture but knew that very few people would get past the picture to even read that. I was hoping the title "Buzzard Elevator" would draw enough attention to get viewers to read the narrative which is what this posting was all about anyway. So the next time you see vultures circling, they're either waiting for something to die or on the way up to look for something that already is.

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Aug 8, 2022 16:31:32   #
topcat Loc: Alameda, CA
 
Thanks for the information. The photo illustrates it very nicely.

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Aug 8, 2022 16:39:06   #
angler Loc: StHelens England
 
Good shot.

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