Lavonia Looks to be Winning Fight Against Turkey Vultures

By MJ Kneiser, WLHR Radio, Lavonia

Lavonia City officials say it appears the buzzards are leaving Brookwood Drive, but they may be trading one neighborhood for another.

Recently, residents on Brookwood Drive in Lavonia have had to deal with literally hundreds of American Turkey Vultures roosting on their homes, cars and trees.

Earlier this month, the city of Lavonia began a noise campaign on the residential street to drive the birds out

Now, Lavonia City Manager Charles Cawthon said it looks like the number of birds has diminished.

“The noise seems to be driving them away and keeping them away,” he said. “The main thing is we need to stay after it or we’re going to lose the progress that we’ve made so far.”

The city of Lavonia used propane-powered crop cannons that make a loud boom at intervals to harass the buzzards, which makes them leave the area.

However, they were not going very far apparently.

One resident on Roberts Street, about a half mile away from Brookwood Drive, said about 30 of the vultures roosted in one of her pecan trees, but her dogs barking chased them away.

Cawthon said that Lavonia will have to stay on top of the buzzard bombardment.

“We’re trying to keep an eye on where they’re going to around the city, but they seem kind of scattered so it’s hard to get a handle on that,” Cawthon said. “If citizens see them in other areas they probably need to let us know, so we can be aware of that too.”

American Turkey Vultures are protected by the federal government and it is illegal to kill them without special permits from the USDA.

If you are having a problem with turkey buzzards you need to contact your local city or county officials.