Yep a Maryland west DC suburb.
Went I first moved to the DC I lived on the east side and my parents would visit every spring break.
That was the time of the year that turkey vultures would gather in mass in my yard. (Lived in the woods back then.)
My dad would say “They are wasting their time. No way I’m gonna kick the bucket yet.”
There were tons of them. It was really creepy.
LOL!
When we drive home from work - or at least, when we did a year ago - we drive through a wooded area where deer are constantly crossing the road and sometimes getting hit by cars.
Now and then we’d see the turkey buzzard heads sticking up through the brush as they enjoyed a feast.
Once, we even witnessed them pulling some roadkill off to the side of the road, so they wouldn’t be bothered by traffic. Talk about creepy!
We have a new place and put out bird feeders. Took about 3 days for the woodpeckers, jays, a cardinal (too heavy for what we have, so we’ll add one with a strong perch next year), mourning doves, grouse to show up....and red and grey squirrels, for which we need security for next year.
The most fun is our local turkey flock. They come through 2x a day, as did one shy deer, who brought a friend later in the week. The toms are now accompanying *the girls* and showing red on their heads and throats.
It’s a rural subdivision with a majority of summer homes, so the turkeys parade down the middle of the street. Little traffic and very quiet. Feels like we’re in the woods with our 3 acres and absent neighbors on 3 sides.
We are now setting out food only in the front, as we do not want the turkeys or deer near our new raised beds. We will add kennel panels, but I really can see those ground feeders ruining a garden.
We’ll set up the bird baths far away from the tomatoes, too. Need to give them moisture here and without the birdbaths, I’m afraid they’ll peck the tomatoes.
Great entertainment, but then, we’re easy.