Whacked a turkey vulture today

[Raider]

Man, do I hate those dirty, ugly birds.  I was leading a group ride today and shifted a bit left to avoid road kill.  I was close to the center line and signaled the hazard, sticking out my right leg.  Just then, the dirty beast came out of the ditch on the left flying straight across the road.  If I moved right, I'd certainly intersect him; left would put me in the oncoming lane.  I kept the head low, braced, and the nasty thing turned in front of the bike to head exactly in my traveled path. 

It bounced off my fender, taking the left side reflector with him.  He then bounced off the sole of my boot HARD.  After an explosion of feathers, he tumbled down the road a bit.

We pulled over to survey damage, and all was well, so we laughed for a few minutes about the feathers scaring the guys behind me and got back on the road. 

Just glad he was low and not bouncing off my head!

Moral: if in eastern NC, you may tangle with these dang things!

[The emperor has no clothes]

Life is a game of inches sometimes. Glad he didn't gain a few on you. 

[Jess from VA]

They're all over the place up here too.  Heavy and low trajectories.  I've dodged a few.  When you see roadkill, watch out; they are not far away.  If you go in the ditch or over the mountain and no one can find you, they will.

Cute as hell.

[cookiedough]

glad you made it out unscaved except the bike just a tad is all.

Hey,  it could have been worse hitting a goose or turkey, both of which I have come very close on nailing on a bike.

My neighbor hit a cow in the middle of the road at night over the crest of a hill,  ONLY in WI! 

[98valk]

actually very clean animals,
Like other vultures, it plays an important role in the ecosystem by disposing of carrion which would otherwise be a breeding ground for disease.

 and be glad the authorities didn't see u kill it. they are protected birds.
The turkey vulture species receives special legal protections under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 in the United States,[8] by the Convention for the Protection of Migratory Birds in Canada,[68] and by the Convention for the Protection of Migratory Birds and Game Mammals in Mexico.[68] In the US it is illegal to take, kill, or possess turkey vultures, and violation of the law is punishable by a fine of up to $15,000 and imprisonment of up to six months.[67
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey_vulture

glad u survived the contact.

[The emperor has no clothes]

actually very clean animals,
Like other vultures, it plays an important role in the ecosystem by disposing of carrion which would otherwise be a breeding ground for disease.

 and be glad the authorities didn't see u kill it. they are protected birds.
The turkey vulture species receives special legal protections under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 in the United States,[8] by the Convention for the Protection of Migratory Birds in Canada,[68] and by the Convention for the Protection of Migratory Birds and Game Mammals in Mexico.[68] In the US it is illegal to take, kill, or possess turkey vultures, and violation of the law is punishable by a fine of up to $15,000 and imprisonment of up to six months.[67
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey_vulture

glad u survived the contact.

Surely it's not illegal to kill one by hitting with a vehicle ?

[98valk]

actually very clean animals,
Like other vultures, it plays an important role in the ecosystem by disposing of carrion which would otherwise be a breeding ground for disease.

 and be glad the authorities didn't see u kill it. they are protected birds.
The turkey vulture species receives special legal protections under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 in the United States,[8] by the Convention for the Protection of Migratory Birds in Canada,[68] and by the Convention for the Protection of Migratory Birds and Game Mammals in Mexico.[68] In the US it is illegal to take, kill, or possess turkey vultures, and violation of the law is punishable by a fine of up to $15,000 and imprisonment of up to six months.[67
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey_vulture

glad u survived the contact.

Surely it's not illegal to kill one by hitting with a vehicle ?

I would hope not, yet in the laws one must prove it was an accident. then all u need is some crazy saying I saw him steer right into that poor bird. or an over zealous young new badge trying to impress.
just sayin', felt it was good to know.

[Raider]

glad you made it out unscaved except the bike just a tad is all.

Hey,  it could have been worse hitting a goose or turkey, both of which I have come very close on nailing on a bike.

My neighbor hit a cow in the middle of the road at night over the crest of a hill,  ONLY in WI! 

  Yikes!

[Raider]

actually very clean animals,
Like other vultures, it plays an important role in the ecosystem by disposing of carrion which would otherwise be a breeding ground for disease.

 and be glad the authorities didn't see u kill it. they are protected birds.
The turkey vulture species receives special legal protections under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 in the United States,[8] by the Convention for the Protection of Migratory Birds in Canada,[68] and by the Convention for the Protection of Migratory Birds and Game Mammals in Mexico.[68] In the US it is illegal to take, kill, or possess turkey vultures, and violation of the law is punishable by a fine of up to $15,000 and imprisonment of up to six months.[67
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey_vulture

glad u survived the contact.

Surely it's not illegal to kill one by hitting with a vehicle ?

I would hope not, yet in the laws one must prove it was an accident. then all u need is some crazy saying I saw him steer right into that poor bird. or an over zealous young new badge trying to impress.
just sayin', felt it was good to know.

Stunned that they're protected!  Still, with five riders behind me witnessing the whole thing, I can't imagine being cited for the vulture's suicide.

[john]

I have never whacked a turkey vulture  ... ride'in  the road one beautiful day ... the right side of my face and neck became cold all of a sudden     ???    I can't see out of my right eye          something covering the right lens of  my safety glasses      ... I wiped the lens clean with my finger and looked at what it was that whacked
me. then I see him ...  fly'in over head ... he nailed me good       

[The emperor has no clothes]

actually very clean animals,
Like other vultures, it plays an important role in the ecosystem by disposing of carrion which would otherwise be a breeding ground for disease.

 and be glad the authorities didn't see u kill it. they are protected birds.
The turkey vulture species receives special legal protections under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 in the United States,[8] by the Convention for the Protection of Migratory Birds in Canada,[68] and by the Convention for the Protection of Migratory Birds and Game Mammals in Mexico.[68] In the US it is illegal to take, kill, or possess turkey vultures, and violation of the law is punishable by a fine of up to $15,000 and imprisonment of up to six months.[67
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey_vulture

glad u survived the contact.

Surely it's not illegal to kill one by hitting with a vehicle ?

I would hope not, yet in the laws one must prove it was an accident. then all u need is some crazy saying I saw him steer right into that poor bird. or an over zealous young new badge trying to impress.
just sayin', felt it was good to know.

Stunned that they're protected!  Still, with five riders behind me witnessing the whole thing, I can't imagine being cited for the vulture's suicide.

I bet that was quite a sight for your buddies behind you.  A few years back I had a close encounter with one. His wingtip just lightly grazed my windshield, I don't think he touched me. But the driver in the car next to me , his eyes were as big as saucers looking at me.

[Hooter]

They are as bad as woodchucks!

[Jess from VA]

You guys have flying woodchucks up there?   

I ran over a big woodchuck a few years ago.  Like hitting a big speed bump at 45.  The only part of me touching the bike was my hands on the bars.  Hit him dead center.... afterwards he waddled away.

[Psychotic Bovine]

glad you made it out unscaved except the bike just a tad is all.

Hey,  it could have been worse hitting a goose or turkey, both of which I have come very close on nailing on a bike.

My neighbor hit a cow in the middle of the road at night over the crest of a hill,  ONLY in WI! 

Cows are trouble.  One of our drivers hit one in Nebraska at night.  It broke the front axle and the truck plowed into a ravine.  The cow was dead, our driver was hurt, but survived.  The truck, trailer, and load were all totaled.  Probably $200,000 in damages.  Cows are trouble.

[cookiedough]

glad you made it out unscaved except the bike just a tad is all.

Hey,  it could have been worse hitting a goose or turkey, both of which I have come very close on nailing on a bike.

My neighbor hit a cow in the middle of the road at night over the crest of a hill,  ONLY in WI! 

Cows are trouble.  One of our drivers hit one in Nebraska at night.  It broke the front axle and the truck plowed into a ravine.  The cow was dead, our driver was hurt, but survived.  The truck, trailer, and load were all totaled.  Probably $200,000 in damages.  Cows are trouble.

Darn cows,  who would've thunk it??

It was actually my neighbors kid who hit the cow while he lived at home, total loss of car and cow needless to say.

If you want any good out of it,  I guess he didn't have to pay for any damages, the farmer did for not keeping his cows off the road.  Poor farmer!

[Hook#3287]

Turkey, can this close to getting taken out by one.

Big, heavy and can't fly for crap.

Not on a bike, but standing next to a house cutting siding boards, a partridge tried to fly through a window, bounced of it and hit me right in the chest.  Knocked me on me keister and snapped it's neck.