Proboscis Bird

SIGHTLESS SWAMP VULTURE

In Appalachian fens and bogs, a strange, sightless vulture nests called the Proboscis Bird. The animal was discovered in the mid-1500s by explorers who were both amazed and put off by its fleshy, eyeless bodies and rotten-egg scent. Easy to capture, the foreigners studied the birds, seeking out special uses for their meat, feathers, skin, and squawking forms. Though docile at night, the birds pecked at handlers with a toothy beak hidden under their noses during the day, leaving deep, painful wounds behind; additionally, they would beat their powerful wings suddenly, allowing them to escape pursuers, while also knocking the wind out of them. Inadvertently, the handling of these animals and their young devastated Proboscis populations. Smell an essential part of their lives, Nose Buzzards seek out food, other birds, nesting materials, and shelter with their overly large, sensitive noses. After being handled by humans, the birds’ scents were intermingled and diminished by other smells (often intentionally to make studying/caring for them more tolerable), which caused the birds to not be able to recognize one another, ceasing social interaction between them. Chicks became strangers to mothers and fathers—causing them to starve, be pushed out of the nest, and in some instances, eaten by their own family when re-entered into the population; mature birds became alienated by those untouched by human hands, preventing them from mating or protecting the community from predators. Too late, the explorers realized their effect on the bird’s lives, and ended contact—they couldn't find any valuable applications and were difficult to handle anyway. Reporting these encounters, a myth began spreading about all North American birds: if you touch a baby bird, its parents won’t recognize it and it will die. Though this popular myth still circulates today, most have never heard of or seen the rare Proboscis Bird.

APPEARANCE

This species of bird grows to be 10 - 16 in. long, 9 - 11 oz., with a wingspan of ~ 30 in.; females are larger.

ACTIVITY

Daily Life and Development

Nose Buzzards are facultative scavengers; when carrion is smelled, the birds flock to it. With the olfactory lobe and chamber being much larger than in other animal’s brains and noses, they can detect dead from great distances. With its formidable, toothed beak, cutting through an animal’s hide takes little time. However, these birds gain most of their sustenance through other means. Seeds, fruit, crayfish, worms, and other small invertebrates or insects are detected with their strong sense of smell, marking them as the next meal.

Proboscis Birds move with their bodies low to the ground and their heads extended; long, thin, translucent hairs on the tip of their nose warns of approaching objects; yet, the creature often trips over low-lying hindrances. This species of bird does not create individual nests but resides in communities. At night, the birds sleep in a pile on top of haphazardly arranged grasses, sticks, and other vegetation. The mass of bird’s scent intermingles into a strong, offensive aroma—warding off many predators, while also attracting nocturnal scavengers. If threatened, Nose Buzzards will fight back; if losing this confrontation, they will regurgitate their last meal onto the attacker—the acidic contents burning them slightly and hopefully scaring them away—then flee to the safety of dense foliage. If a community is attacked, they will fight as a group. When the gatherings become too large, the population splits in half, the smallest halve relocating elsewhere.

Communities share a nest, defending and raising young together. Laying sites are found near creeks or rivers in thick pockets of mud accompanied by tall grasses. Males and females take turns incubating the nests while others forage/scavenge. Females lay up to three eggs per season, with mating taking place in the spring. There are no courtship rituals or monogamous relationships in Nose Buzzard cultures, but unwanted attention is met by a sharp beak or flap of the wings. Eggs are incubated for 37 days before hatching; offspring are fed by various members of the group through regurgitation. If the group is attacked while nesting, the birds will attempt to defend the nest; if they are pushed, they will, however, abandon their eggs. Unfertilized eggs are later eaten. During the winter, the group will temporarily move from the waterside to dense foliage or hollow trees; during the summer, they will rest in the shade and cool off through urohydrosis—which contributes to their unpleasant smell.