Angela Durrell - Special to the Sun

They’re not the prettiest of birds. In fact, most people’s initial reaction to the vulture is an instinctive shudder of revulsion; images come to mind of the relentless, patient circling of the foreboding figures as they circle a dying animal far below on the ground. Their reputation as the 'Grim Reapers of Nature' precludes any warm-and-fuzzy feelings of cuteness that are granted to, say, the raccoon or the bunny rabbit. But vultures have a beauty and purpose that goes deeper than their outward appearance.

The Audubon Society at the Kern River Preserve celebrates that purpose each year with the annual Turkey Vulture Festival, and this past weekend, marked their 13th year of education and reverence for one of the most important animals in our ecological system.

Turkey vultures enjoy the morning sun while roosting in trees at the Kern River Preserve prior to taking flight Wednesday in Weldon.

'Everything has its niche, and without them, we’d be in trouble,' says Alison Sheehy, event coordinator. 'They’re the janitors of the sky.'

As carrion feeders and scavengers, vultures provide a key function in the environment by literally cleaning up nature’s garbage. By doing so, they prevent the spread of bacteria and disease that would otherwise run rampant. Humans and animals alike would suffer from infection and illness.

The Preserve, with its dedicated core group of volunteers, has been tracking and recording the migration of the turkey vulture for over a decade. Every day of the week, six hours a day, for forty days, they literally scan the sky for incoming targets and painstakingly record the number of birds that pass through the Preserve’s 4000-acre property.

'It takes patience,' says Terri Gallion, who has been tracking vultures since the inception of the program. 'You’ll be staring at a blank sky for hours.'

Some days, they’d sit for hours and not see a single target. Sheehy explains that weather has a significant impact on controlling the vultures’ flight path; if it is too cold or windy, the numbers diminish. However, the commitment pays off in the sheer volume of migration in the last year.

'Over at Victoria Island, they’re really excited because they counted 1,200 vultures,' Sheehy says. 'We have a large migration of over 50,000 in the fall.'

The average turkey vulture weighs between two to three pounds, with a wingspan of about six feet. Volunteers became so proficient at spotting and observing them that they became near-experts at identification as well.

'It got to the point where we knew the flying patters almost down to the minute,' Gallion says.

And it became rather competitive as volunteers developed their knowledge. 'They say, ’ÄòOh, this isn’t so hard,’ and then it becomes an actual sport,' as to who can identify and count the most birds with accuracy, chuckles Sheehy.

The Festival began as a way to educate and inspire people about the true beauty and environmental impact of the vulture, drawing over 600 people at each event. Supported by the volunteers and sponsored by the Audubon Society of California, it draws visitors from all over the world; some who return annually to the Kern Valley. Consequently, the Preserve’Äîand the wildlife it protects’Äîprovides a large part of the economic fulfillment in the Valley, drawing bird-watchers and wildlife enthusiasts who spend their money in the restaurants, RV parks, and hotels.

'There is a huge segment of the population who spend a lot of money to visit places like this,' Sheehy observes. 'The Kern Valley has one of the most diverse, pristine environments for natural beauty and conservation.'

The Festival offered diverse activities for attendees, including bird walks, exhibits, children’s activities, and workshops. Entertainment and music were in full swing, with artists such as Out of the Blue and Archie Logsden playing and singing for the crowds. Naturalists Sheehy, John Schmitt and Michael McQuerry led field trips that featured the spectacular natural diversity of the valley and its ecology, offering participants everything from kayak expeditions to the 'Trail of One Hundred Giants'’Äîa trip to the magnificent Giant Sequoia National Monument.

With the success of this year’s event and the resurgence of a healthy turkey vulture population, the Preserve looks forward to expanding and developing its resources in the future, including its volunteer corps, facilities, and additional education and tourism events.

For more information, call the California Audubon Society at 760-378-2531 or visit the Kern Valley Preserve website at www.audubon.org/local/sanctuary/kernriver/