I suspect the title sounds like a crazy statement, but it’s true. Just like restaurants which are closed due to the Pandemic (at least here in Minnesota), Roadkill Cafe is closed! I actually had this discussion with another naturalist back in late March. Here in northern Minnesota, as in the rest of America, traffic on the highways is down 90% … maybe more. It stands to reason that whitetail deer, and other animals are being killed much less frequently due to this anomaly. The main scavenger birds in my region are Bald Eagles, Crows, Ravens and Turkey Vultures. For those birds accustomed to getting supper along Scenic 61 between Two Harbors and Silver Cliff (a prime collision spot) … sorry Charlie!

Oh well, all the scavengers except Turkey Vultures are here year round. The vultures are now back up north, and the cafe is closed. This morning, I was actually looking for Eastern Meadowlarks, but this vulture provided some amazing photo ops. The darn meadowlarks while numerous would not turn and face me.

Bald is Beautiful!

Turkey Vulture Video (link for email subscribers)

And one Eastern Meadowlark image … saw and heard lots of meadowlarks, but all the females must have been in the field far away from me. Not one singer would turn, and look at me … thus displaying their beautiful breasts. Sigh.