Buzzard City

One of the best parts of running with Marathon Makeover has been getting outdoors on a regular basis again. I have experienced the change of seasons this year (from too cold to tolerably cold to pleasant to warmer to BRUTALLY HOT). During last Saturday’s run, when I went “only” 13 miles (people laugh when I say that), I saw the strangest sight yet.

I was on the Ridgeland trail south of Old Agency Road. I was going west up the hill, across the Natchez Trace bridge and headed downhill toward where the trail intersects with Highland Colony Parkway. As I was rounding the curve at the bottom of the hill, one of the ladies in my group, who was headed in the opposite direction, told me, “There are vultures on the bridge waiting for us.”

I thought she was joking. Was this some sort of comment on my lack of speed? Then I rounded the curve and got to the bridge. Sitting on the top rail were what appeared to be two American Black Vultures (or buzzards as we call them in Mississippi). They were both about the size of a young turkey. The two birds didn’t seem to notice me, but I kept my distance both times I passed them. I’ve seen buzzards all of my life, but that’s by far the closest I’ve ever been to one.

By the time I finished the run, I felt like road kill. Fortunately, the buzzards were nowhere in sight.