Photos: The Committee

A dead deer near the bridge had drew severalTurkey vultures to the area just north of the Blackfoot River near the Stemple Pass Road Bridge. A quick count revealed at least 15 vultures in a pair of cottonwoods, across the road from the deer carcass, with more perched in the trees to the south of the river. Turkey Vultures are a common sight in the skies around Lincoln and are easily identifiable by their two toned brown and gray wings while soaring.

In a nod to their relationship with dead things, a group of vultures feeding on a carcass is called a wake. Those in flight, however, are called a kettle. Perched in trees they are called, variously, a venue, volt or a committee.