I am an avid birder, and there has always been a special spot in my heart for vultures. I worked with a few during my years at the nature park and in wildlife rehabilitation. As I learned more about them, I was constantly amazed at how well adapted they are for the job they do of eating carrion. Many people are put off by them because of what they eat, but even that amazes me. I took this photo of a black vulture perched on an old, dead oak branch a few days ago on my way home from work. It was a little bit chilly, but the sun was out, and several birds were warming themselves in the sun. Several had their wings spread out to collect as much sun as possible. This one had been doing that, but I guess it was warm enough and had just folded it’s wings. I liked the stark contrast between the bird and the clear sky. I added a blue tint to the whole image since I liked the way it stylized the bird.