BUZZARD BUZZES INTO FAMILY'S LIFE

John and Margaret Majerczyk said they have seen all kinds of animals wander onto their property in the 26 years they've been in rural Floyd County, but they had never befriended a large turkey before.

The bird is most likely a young turkey vulture, which is often called a buzzard. The Majerczyks named him Buzz.

The bird follows John into his auto restoration shop and tags along with Margaret out to the clothesline. The animal is there when the Majerczyks awake in the mornings, often sitting on a flower box peering into the house, waiting for someone to come out.

And he anxiously awaits feeding time, which consists of about a half-pound of hamburger a day. When he's not eating, Buzz roosts in a dead tree or struts around the yard playing with whatever he can find.

Margaret Majerczyk said she was "a little shocked" when Buzz started following her around the yard.

"At first, I didn't know what to think," she said. "I was leery. At first I thought it was injured and couldn't fly. But then it does fly."

Fred Heinz, director of the Cerro Gordo County Conservation Board, said the vulture may have had prior human contact. He may have been blown out of a nest and been fed by someone else, because most turkey vultures are wary of humans.