Vultures, particularly turkey vultures and black vultures, help prevent disease by consuming dead animals before they decompose. This makes them crucial for maintaining healthy environments, especially in regions like North and South America, where large populations of new world vultures thrive.
Buzzards, such as the red-shouldered hawk and rough-legged hawk, help control populations of rodents and other small animals. By hunting live prey, they contribute to maintaining the balance of predator-prey relationships in their habitats.
Despite their different diets, both groups of birds play a critical role in keeping nature in check.
In fact, many vulture species worldwide are suffering from population decline, in part related to human activities. As these creatures’ ability to consume dead animals is unique among vertebrates, their vital role in maintaining healthy ecosystems is in great need of protection [source: NIH].
