Backpacking and Hammock Camping on Vulture Island, wild camping tips and vulture information

Join the adventure. You are invited to backpack and hammock camp on Vulture Island at Stubblefield Lake in the Sam Houston National Forest, Texas. This video provides tips and suggestions for wild camping along with information about the critical role that vultures play to eliminate disease from the environment. The video shows the two vulture species that live in Texas: the American Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) and the Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura).

If you are interested in learning more about the soda can alcohol stove shown in the video, check-out the many descriptions posted on the Internet. See for example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bycAxYNYBAE. For information on starting a fire with a ferrocerium "flint" rod and knife see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J48srwPrv0E. For information about vultures, see The Turkey Vulture Society: http://vulturesociety.homestead.com/ and Vultures Rock: http://vulturesrock.com/.




A BLESSING FOR THE VULTURES by Ken Kramm, December 2011

Before I leave these woods, let me say a blessing for the vultures.

Thank you for allowing me to camp near your roost. This is a special place where few humans are allowed.

You are important creatures, from which human beings can learn a great deal.

You don't kill, but rather eat what is already dead. Recycling life that has been lost is an honorable role and is critical to Mother Earth.

You eliminate virtually all disease from the environment. Your poop is so clean that it can be used for hand sanitizer. And it doesn't smell. Too bad the human species doesn't share this attribute.

You can glide through the air on thermals at 20,000 feet, with hardly a wing flap. You are a model for the fixed-wing aircraft that human beings use.

You have excellent eyesight can see food from miles away. In addition, the Turkey Vulture species has the unique attribute of being able to smell food from great distances. We human beings can express only wonder and awe over these abilities.

You are playful and social, and fun to watch. You communicate by hissing and grunting, and flapping your wings.

You know what you are doing, and you know who is in charge.

When I return in the future, please recognize that I will do you no harm. I promise to watch, listen and learn from your wisdom.

*********

Videography by Ken Kramm, Sam Houston Forest, December 2011, Canon Vixia HFS20, Canon PowerShot SX10IS, Final Cut Pro X. All photographs were taken by Ken Kramm with the exception Wickipedia pictures of the Wright Brothers airplane (public domain), gliding American Black Vulture (1024px-Coragyps_atratus_-Myakka_River_State_Park,_Florida,_USA_-flying-8.jpg ) and gliding Turkey Vulture (Cathartes_aura_-Florida- USA =- flying-8-4c.jpg) which are Creative Commons photographs.

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Education

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• Ken Kramm

[mp4542]

Nice video.

[KennethKramm]

@mp4542 Thanks for your feedback. Ken

[craftbrosify]

You should consider getting a packraft and you could get over to the island all the time

[KennethKramm]

@craftbrosify Excellent idea. Tks, Ken

[RaulSoaresG1452]

Ken, I really enjoy your camping videos, they are so interesting and fun to watch. For poeple like me, who can´t go out very often, watch your videos is a great way to have a notion of the great entertaining adventure that is camping. Thank you very much. Happy new year!

[KennethKramm]

@RaulSoaresG1452 Thanks Raul. I can't wait to go on my next camping trip. Stay tuned. Have a wonderful new year! Ken

[RaulSoaresG1452]

09:30 =D Vultures are really amazing, not only their faeces are clean from bacteria and virus, because of their strong stomach acids, but also their feathers (they always clean themselves after a meal). I never undestanded why people don´t like them. Great birds.

[KennethKramm]

@bigmuscleify OK.  Now we can do push-ups on the ground below the vulture roost. Thanks for commenting. The next time I'm hiking in an area with rocks, perhaps we can do some exercises together. Ken

[bigmuscleify]

I DARE.

[KennethKramm]

@g0vqw Sandy, thanks for your feedback. May nature be yours, Ken