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Festival Headquarters:
Audubon-California's Kern River Preserve,
Weldon, Kern County, California
The Kern River Valley
Turkey Vulture Festival celebrates the height of fall Turkey Vulture migration
through California's "Valley Wild", the Kern River Valley.
Although there is no longer an official Turkey Vulture count,
one of the two
largest known migration sites in North America (north of Mexico) -
Seven-thousand six-hundred sixty-four Turkey Vultures were counted during the
4-day festival in 2004. The 2004 count period from from September 14th through
October 14th tallied 23,898 vultures. The magnitude of the migration over this southern Sierra
Nevada count site is awe inspiring. See the view from the
TV
Count Site.
ACTIVITIES - Our late September festival date also corresponds with what is historically one
of the finest weekends for observing fall land bird migration in California. In
addition to the presence of many western migrants attractive to eastern birders,
there are excellent chances for observing eastern rarities at nearby desert
oases. Free Booths/Exhibits/Workshops/Children’s Activities at the Kern
River Preserve as well as nature walks.
It is with
pleasure and anticipation that we cordially invite you to our annual festival. Join
us in celebrating the phenomenon of Turkey Vulture migration and the other natural wonders
of fall in the Kern River Valley!
VULTURE COUNT
- YOU are the scientist! Send in what you are seeing in your backyard
or comment on our BLOG.
There is no longer an official vulture count. The count was started in 1994 by Terri Gallion and Sean Rowe under the
auspices of the Kern River Research Center to formally document what is now the largest
known Turkey Vulture migration over a single point north of Mexico.
SPONSORS - The Kern Valley Turkey Vulture Festival is sponsored by: Audubon–California, Kern
River Valley Revitalization Committee,
and Friends of the Kern River Preserve
For more information on Turkey Vultures visit:
The Turkey Vulture
Society (Scientific Research, Non-profit, Tax Exempt organization)
7072 Raleigh Tavern Dr
Manassas, VA 20112
E-mail: vulturesociety@gmail.com
Web Site:
http://vulturesociety.homestead.com/
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