Scavenger hunt

POSTED 4-13-2010

A group of American black vultures gather for a meal at Marble Falls’ Johnson Park Tuesday morning — prompting parkgoers to shy away from the area while the birds feasted. The flock scattered about an hour later after the meal — a dead squirrel — was consumed. Despite their unappetizing habits, naturalists say the carrion-consuming birds play a key role in the ecological balance by getting rid of decaying remains. Staff photo by Chris Porter