More on The Galilean Cannon

Editor

In "Backscatter" for March and May 2008 there was a discussion on the Galilean Cannon. I found that there is an extensive write up on the subject (“Drop Two Stacked Balls From Waist Height; the Top Ball May Bounce Up to the Ceiling”) in the October 1988 issue of "The Amateur Scientist" in Scientific American.

Ralph Coppola


Strange Weather

Editor,

"Cool spring delays crops in Eastern Washington."

In my garden I see one plant, probably a cucumber, 1/2 inch wide. No corn yet, and it's nearly 4 July.

Glen Hemerick

Thanks, Glen, for the unusual weather report. Readers, please send observations of unusual weather in your area to "Backscatter" following the directions below. Thanks, Editor.

The Black (Coragyps atratus) and Turkey (Cathartes aura) Vultures: My Buddies, Nature's Vacuum Cleaners

Editor,

While reading your wonderful vulture profile in the Express-News [see "Forrest Mims' World of Science" in this installment of The Citizen Scientist], I had a lot of fun recalling just how crafty and aware vultures can be--especially when you've invested so much effort into getting a decent close up.

Cutting to the chase, I had my experience(s) while researching an article which is at: http://visitwimberley.com/ourbirds/vultures.shtml

I was able to work around the "shyness" problem by finding a nearby ranch family which had, as my article explains, adopted young turkey and black vultures (Darryl and Buzz) which, although returned to the wild, drop by for an occasional snack. You could sit right down next to them if you wished. But, I was able to get some roadside shots, which aren't particularly difficult.

But, back to their sensory awareness. I learned about that the hard way:

First, I staked out a dead rabbit within good camera range of a deer blind (a tree-house sort of place with small windows and small door entrance) on my ranch. For additional cover, I added burlap to all the openings and waited...and waited...and waited. All the while, as you experienced, I had many low, lazy fly-bys--but no landings.

I soon got a hint of the problem I was facing. Scanning the surrounding terrain (hill country scrub, cedar, oaks) with my binoculars, I almost fell out of the blind laughing. About 1/2 mile away, a regal turkey vulture was staring right back at me from its tree-top perch...as if to say "gotcha."

So, I gave up the deer blind idea. Next, I opted for another assault by fully camouflaging myself and lying motionless under a dense, ground-hugging cedar with my rabbit bait about 30 feet away. Again, lots of fly-bys but no takers.

At that point, I became convinced that descriptions of vulture's senses (sight and smell) are vastly under-rated. They clearly had me cold.

Thank goodness for Darryl and Buzz, who gladly mugged for my camera.

Nature--as you suggest--is great fun. And, I enjoyed your "science fair" analogy.

Lewis Smith

Extreme "Bluzzard" Experience

Editor,

A few years ago my wife and I had an extreme experience with vultures at our former house in Kerrville, Texas.

We lived in a subdivision in town with small lots. The houses were close together, and ours was the first house you would encounter upon entering the subdivision. Our house was only about 40 yards from the very busy "Junction Hwy" (Highway 27) in town.

One day we heard some noise on our roof. We figured it was the fox squirrels running around up there again. The noise level really increased, so we went outside to investigate.

Roosting on our roof were 150-200 vultures, who were taking a siesta. Several were also on my front porch. They did not stir even one feather, as I walked right next to them to go get my mail from the mail box.

They were there 2-3 hours and then left.

The local Texas Parks & Wildlife office told us that one of the vultures here, actually migrated in and out of the area and that perhaps this bunch had just arrived, was exhausted and our roof was the first perch that they saw while descending from flight.

Needless to say, we had plenty of auto traffic in front of our house gawking at the sight.

We have been kicking ourselves since then for not taking photos. Most folks have a hard time believing that such a thing could happen.

Jim Callender

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