As the relentless march of human development proceeds apace, habitat is churned up first for agricultural monocrops, then--similar to ecological succession?--the ag fields are replaced by housing developments or the infrastructure to support them, like a shiny new electrical substation.
The wildlife that lived in the original habitat must adapt, move, or die as the world changes quickly around them.
If you're a big bird that likes to roost in tall trees with a wide view of the surrounding landscape, you might be tempted to settle for some tall metal stumps. On a recent morning, a Turkey Vulture alit on one of the tall towers, assuming a spread-winged posture in the early sun. That six-foot wingspread can help the bird cool off or warm up, depending on place and time, or help dry off their wet feathers.
Soon the individual was joined by a second vulture, and then a third. They relaxed for some minutes on two of the pillars, and then were gone.
These tempting tree-replacements, whether vultures at a substation or squirrels on roadside powerlines, are not without hazards. Birds with large wingspans can easily touch live wires or other equipment, resulting in electrocution (and power outages). Smaller birds and mammals may nest in equipment or chew wires, with similarly ill effects for both the animal and the grid.
The juxtaposition of these ancient birds with our technology, showing how animals are forced to adapt to a world they didn't evolve to inhabit, is both hopeful and haunting.
