6/5/2005:
On this date in 1843, naturalist James Audubon observed Turkey Vultures along the Missouri River between Badger Creek and the Heart River. Six weeks later he again made note of them near Ft. Buford. Ten years earlier, Maximilian had noted a large tree covered with them in the Sheynne Hills of Sioux County.
Turkey Vultures are still reasonably common in the Badlands of the upper Missouri and Yellowstone Rivers, and along the lower portion of the Little Missouri River. Occasionally, they can also be seen in the Turtle Mountains, the lower Missouri River, and the Little Missouri Badlands of southern Billings and Golden Valley Counties.
Source: “Breeding Birds of North Dakota: Turkey vulture (Cathartes aura (Linnaeus))”, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/index.htm
Dakota Datebook written by Merry Helm