Audubon’s black vulture illustration [Coragyps atratus] published as part of his Birds of America series.
“The Carrion Crows of Charleston resort at night to a swampy wood across the Ashley river, about two miles from the city. I visited this roosting place in company with my friend JOHN BACHMAN, approaching it by a close thicket of undergrowth, tangled with vines and briars. When nearly under the trees on which the birds were roosted, we found the ground destitute of vegetation, and covered with ordure and feathers, mixed with the broken branches of the trees. The stench was horrible. The trees were completely covered with birds, from the trunk to the very tips of the branches. They were quite unconcerned; but, having determined to send them the contents of our guns, and firing at the same instant, we saw most of them fly off, hissing, grunting, disgorging, and looking down on their dead companions as if desirous of devouring them.” John James Audubon
Happy First Day of Spring! Out with the gloom, in with the bloom: Our aviculturists plant native wildflowers in the Aviary to act as enrichments for our resident shorebirds, and to share the spring beauty of California’s wetlands. (Photo: Spring Cleaning Inspector General Dunlin surveys the scene.)
Each bird in our Aviary has its own history—most came here injured and can’t live in the wild. Here at the Aquarium, they help guests learn about the coastal ecosystems that shorebirds depend on for food and shelter. You can watch them on our Aviary Cam:
![emerald-of-the-eight:
“ Audubon’s black vulture illustration [Coragyps atratus] published as part of his Birds of America series.
““The Carrion Crows of Charleston resort at night to a swampy wood across the Ashley river, about two miles from the...](https://64.media.tumblr.com/d446c62e6d3460d99f8992ecc4d96150/tumblr_p5akv6uZ8q1w340i1o2_1280.png)
![emerald-of-the-eight:
“ Audubon’s black vulture illustration [Coragyps atratus] published as part of his Birds of America series.
““The Carrion Crows of Charleston resort at night to a swampy wood across the Ashley river, about two miles from the...](https://64.media.tumblr.com/bdb80e5c66becbbc9cd5d1043d8899b2/tumblr_p5akv6uZ8q1w340i1o1_1280.png)
![emerald-of-the-eight:
“ Audubon’s black vulture illustration [Coragyps atratus] published as part of his Birds of America series.
““The Carrion Crows of Charleston resort at night to a swampy wood across the Ashley river, about two miles from the...](https://64.media.tumblr.com/ed28e657d81b94550d3ab72f10098f5e/tumblr_p5akv6uZ8q1w340i1o3_1280.jpg)
