Vultures harass Orlando office workers

By Malcolm Brabant in Miami BBC News OnlineFeb 1, 2001

Office workers in Orlando, Florida believe they are living in a scene right out of Alfred Hitchcock horror movie The Birds.

Scores of turkey vultures have been circling the 28-floor Bank of America building and the Orange County courthouse - riding the thermal updrafts.

The red faced birds peck at office windows, stare curiously at employees - putting them off their work - and prevent them from going on to balconies.

The vultures, which ornithologists describe as nature's rubbish collectors, leave dead animals to rot for days on window ledges.

The birds have even started hoarding fish which have been killed by Florida's drought.

One court worker said he was afraid to sit outside and close his eyes just in case the vultures took him for a corpse.

Animal control experts have suggested installing motion-sensors that trigger water sprays when a bird lands.

Failing that they suggested an electric fence, but that could cost $150,000.

Bird experts say the vultures perform a useful function by disposing of rotting animals that could otherwise spread disease, but the office workers find that argument less than convincing.

-- Lars (larsguy@yahoo.com), February 02, 2001

Answers

signs & wonders in the sky!!

-- al-d (dogs@zianet.com), February 02, 2001.

After events of the past 16 months or so, there's been a revision to the old joke.

Q: What are the only three things that will survive World War III?

A: Cockroaches, Keith Richards, and Eastern North Carolinians.

-- Chicken Little (bull@thebarnyard.com), February 02, 2001.

The red faced birds peck at office windows, stare curiously at employees - putting them off their work - and prevent them from going on to balconies.

Um (looks around sheepishly and says:)

Knock knock?

-- sumer (shh@aol.con), February 02, 2001.

LOL...now GET BACK TO WORK!!!

-- Peg (pegmcleod@mediaone.net), February 02, 2001.

Vultures normal diet is roadkill and other carrion. Lately, they have developed a taste for the insufferably cute and have descended on Disney World and Orlando looking for Mickey Mouse characters.

-- Lars (larsguy@yahoo.com), February 02, 2001.