Unusual: Dozens of vultures fall from the sky in the Gulf of Mexico

A sailor passing through the area stopped to save the lives of some of these scavenger birds, which he lifted onto his boat.


In an unusual phenomenon explained by science, dozens of vultures were found floating in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, near Islamorada.

The images shared on social media by the account Only in Dade showed a large number of fallen birds, surprising users.

According to experts, this event is related to sudden weather changes that affect the flying ability of these scavenging birds.

Vultures rely on warm air currents, known as thermals, to stay airborne. When weather conditions change abruptly, either due to shifts in wind direction or the lack of updrafts, their flight is compromised, causing them to plummet.

In addition, phenomena such as storms or extreme temperatures can disorient or weaken them, complicating their navigation in the air. Rapid changes in atmospheric pressure and the lack of suitable updrafts can cause these birds to falter unexpectedly.

Despite the visual impact of the images, specialists assure that this is a natural behavior that occurs occasionally in different parts of the world, especially in regions where climatic conditions can change abruptly.

The video that went viral on Instagram sparked multiple reactions, with users expressing both astonishment and concern for the birds' condition.

However, wildlife experts emphasize that this is a temporary phenomenon and that, in most cases, the birds manage to recover and take flight again once conditions improve.

The event recalls another one that was equally striking recently, when a group of black vultures (coragyps atratus), commonly known as black vultures, surprised the residents of Miami by calmly settling on the grass of a golf course in Aventura, Miami-Dade.

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CiberCuba Editorial Team

A team of journalists committed to reporting on Cuban current affairs and topics of global interest. At CiberCuba, we work to deliver truthful news and critical analysis.