You never know what you will run into while out birding. I saw many wonderful examples of bird behavior throughout my trip to Florida – both expected and not. One of the more unexpected experiences took place at Viera Wetlands. As we were driving, we noticed two cars stopped at the side of the road. We slowed down in time to see a Turkey Vulture swoop down inbetween them and land on the carcass of a Coot that was at the edge of the marsh.
The Vulture attempts to claim the Coot
The bird seemed to be a bit on edge, keeping its wings stretched out above the carcass. It took the kill and moved it further away from the water.
The Vulture drags the Coot away from the water
Turkey Vulture protecting the carcass
We spotted the reasoning behind its concern nearby in the water. An Alligator was chomping on a wing of the dead Coot. Perhaps the Gator was how the Coot met its end.
Alligator eating a Coot wing
Alligator eating a Coot wing
The Vulture cautiously ate its findings.
Turkey Vulture eating a Coot
Turkey Vulture on a coot
Not long after the Alligator finished the wing, it moved up the bank, closer to the Vulture. He wanted the rest of his meal.
The Alligator moves up the bank
The Vulture, not wanting to give up the meal, continued to mantle over the carcass. The Gator’s size was not exactly very intimidating, so the Vulture held its ground.
The Vulture protects the carcass
The Vulture protects the carcass
The Alligator gets in closer
All-in-all the results were a bit uneventful since the Alligator eventually backed off, but it was still very cool to watch two completely different animals have a small face-off.
The Turkey Vulture continues eating