The first Saturday in September is Vulture Awareness day. Vultures are a very important part of nature’s clean up system, as they will signal the presence of carcasses to other scavengers, which helps to reduce the risk of spreading disease. Many of these birds have been threatened with extinction by the human use of pesticides and lead bullets found in carcasses. Also, because people will hunt them, as think they are perception of decay or death, or just considered an ugly bird. Vultures are on an upswing because of attention brought to the influence these birds have in nature. Read more about some vultures in North America in these articles: UPTURN OF AN ENDANGERED VULTURE, TURKEY VULTURES. The photos of the California Condors were taken at the Grand Canyon and the Turkey Vultures featured, were taken in northern Arizona.