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Breeding Range. (Fig. 37). Fairly common in the badlands and adjacent plains along the lower portion of the Little Missouri River (within northern Billings County, southern and northeastern McKenzie County, and northern Dunn County), and along valleys of the upper Missouri River and Yellowstone River (within Mountrail, McKenzie, and Williams Counties); uncommon in the Little Missouri badlands within southern Billings County and southern Golden Valley County, along the valley of the lower Missouri River and adjoining portions of tributary valleys (within McLean, Mercer, Oliver, Burleigh, Morton, Emmons, and Sioux Counties), and in the Turtle Mountains.

The continual presence since historic times of breeding Turkey Vultures on the watersheds of the Missouri River and its tributaries and in the Turtle Mountains has been well documented. Early records include observations by Maximilian (1843) on June 13, 1833, of a large tree covered with Turkey Vultures in the Sheyenne Hills [in Sioux County near Missouri River]. Audubon (1897) recorded this species on June 5, 1843, along the Missouri River between Badger Creek [a few miles below Fort Rice] and the Heart River and on July 21,1843, near Fort Buford. During early June 1862, this species was seen daily along the stretch of the Missouri River that extends for about 30 miles below Fort Clark (White 1959). During the summer of 1873, Allen (1874) recorded Turkey Vultures at intervals along his expedition route from the Missouri River near Fort Rice westward to the Montana line. During July 1874, Grinnell (1875) recorded this species as abundant on the plains from Fort Lincoln southwest toward the Black Hills of South Dakota. In 1893, it was observed at Medora and at Bismarck (A. K. Fisher). Other summer records were obtained during the early 1900's as follows: in 1909 near Washburn (V. Bailey); in 1911 in the Turtle Mountains (H. V. Williams); in 1913 near Medora (Gabrielson and Jewett 1924), near Bullion Butte in Golden Valley County and between Medora and Quinion (S. G. Jewett), and 18 miles southwest of Williston (V. Bailey); and in 1918 in the Little Missouri badlands north of Killdeer (Gabrielson and Jewett 1924).

During the 1800's and early 1900's, the breeding distribution extended beyond the present range into the eastern sectors of the state. The species was first recorded at Pembina on August 5-9, 1823 (Keating 1824). One was shot along the Bois de Sioux River about June 28, 1853 (Cooper 1859). During the summer of 1873, it was frequently seen from Pembina west through the Mouse River area (Coues 1878). In 1887, a few were seen at Pembina from July 21 to August 2, and it was common at Devils Lake during August 6-19 (V. Bailey). In 1893, several were recorded in the vicinity of Steele, Kidder County, on July 29-30 and at Devils Lake on August 3-5 (A. K. Fisher). Other records during the breeding season were obtained during the early 1900's as follows: in 1910, a nest found at Chase Lake in Stutsman County (H. H. McCumber); in 1912, recorded near Sweetwater Lake in Ramsey County (F. M. Bailey) and near Kathryn in Barnes County (A. Eastgate); in 1915, at Fort Totten (R. Kellogg); about 1918, a nest near Lake Isabel in Kidder County (L. C. Pettibone); in 1921, at Grafton (Wood 1923); and in 1922, a nest in Big Coulee of southwestern Benson County (P. B. Peabody). More recently on June 20, 1947, this species was recorded in McHenry County on the J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge (bird record file - N. Dak. State Univ.).

Breeding Habitat. The Turkey Vulture is a wide-ranging edge species that is characteristic of habitat complexes that include brushy woodlands intermingled with or adjoining open expanses of prairie or cropland.

Nesting. A nest found in June 1910 at Chase Lake in Stutsman County contained young during July (H. H. McCumber). Eggs were collected in the Turtle Mountains in 1911 (H. V. Williams). About 1918, according to L. C. Pettibone, a nest found near Lake Isabel in Kidder County was situated in the enlarged entrance of a badger hole. P. B. Peabody reports in 1922 that nests in the Big Coulee area of southwestern Benson County were situated under ledges of large boulders along steep ravines. In 1971, a nest located 4 miles west of Mandan in Morton County was situated in a sandstone cavity that was about 1 foot in diameter and at least 8 feet long; this nest contained a single young bird when visited on August 14 and August 26 (R. N. Randall).

Figure 37. Breeding Range of Turkey Vulture.