One of the people (I guess I can call her a "friend" even if we've not actually met in real life) on one of the bulletin boards I visit, just posted this in regards to my concern about the dead vulture (I was describing it as feeling like a bad omen):

"Maybe you need to let the fact that the vulture was on your roof not be a bad sign from NAture but rather that the vulture was suffering and Nature knew you would help it so you were chosen"

You know, that's a better way of looking at it. I probably treated the bird with more respect (and more alacrity) than some people would have. I didn't shoot at it, or poke it with a stick, or tease it. (I did feel bad about it falling off the roof, but I think my hedge broke its fall). And I saw to it that it got taken care of in a timely fashion. It's probably in vulture heaven right now (if such a thing exists) but even if not, at least it's not suffering any more.