The animal intake report indicated that a pair of black vulture chicks had been found along the side of a road. While the circumstances are unclear, one thing is certain: encountering a wild black vulture chick is extraordinarily rare. Black vultures are among the most secretive nesting birds in North America, and few people ever see their young in the wild. Fortunately, these chicks found their way into the care of Ravensbeard Wildlife Center.
Unlike many birds, black vultures do not build traditional nests. Instead, they lay their eggs in hidden, secluded locations such as abandoned barns and dilapidated sheds, beneath dense brush or fallen logs, inside hollow trees, or deep within rock crevices and caves. Their nesting sites are often so well concealed that they can go unnoticed for years.
In fact, the first documented black vulture nest in New York State was discovered right here in Ulster County in 1997. The nest was located among the rocky talus slopes—cavities formed by large, tumbled boulders—within the Mohonk Preserve near High Falls.
Adult black vultures are fiercely protective of their nesting areas and reveal very few clues to the location of their young. Their chicks are equally difficult to spot. As seen in the photo, black vulture chicks are covered in thick, fluffy pale down that blends remarkably well with dead leaves, weathered wood, and deep shadows, providing excellent natural camouflage. They remain dependent on their parents for several weeks and typically fledge at 70 to 80 days of age.
Black vultures are keystone species that perform one of nature’s most essential services: sanitation. By rapidly consuming carrion, they prevent the accumulation of decaying animal remains in the environment. Their highly acidic digestive systems can neutralize dangerous pathogens, including those that cause rabies, botulism, and anthrax. In doing so, they help reduce the risk of disease transmission to humans, livestock, and other wildlife.
Because of their critical ecological role, black vultures are protected under federal law. In the United States, they are safeguarded by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which prohibits harming these birds, their nests, or their eggs without the appropriate permits.