Turkey Vulture found in sludge pond

This summer, workers at a water treatment facility brought a Turkey Vulture to the care center after finding her in a sludge pond. The bird was completely covered in sludge – it was even in her nostrils – and the sludge contained chemicals that irritated her skin and feathers. The vulture required aggressive bathing and supportive care, but mostly suffered from feather damage. The good news? After two months of medical attention, care center staff successfully released the bird last week – just in time for fall migration. 

At the release site:

Turkey Vulture - Lacy Campbell

The vulture making her way back into the wild:

Turkey Vulture in flight - Lacy Campbell