A Strang Turn of Events

I live in Northern Indiana and am no stranger to wildlife. I roamed the countryside growing up and always marveled at the beauty of nature. This Friday something happened I'd never seen before.
I'd just walked outside to smoke a bowl of Sixpence and found the sample of Motzek Strang that Nate sent in the mail. I immediately opened it, smelled it, and packed a small bowl. As I sat there slowly smoking, I could not find words to describe this tobacco. It was only when I forgot about it, that the flavor would give me a hint of what it was. If I payed attention, it would elude me. I consider myself to have a fairly sophisticated palette, so I figure this is like a great Scotch or Cognac to be savored and courted slowly.
I was staring off into the sky and noticed a few shapes moving in a circle. As they got closer, I could not believe my eyes. There were about ten hawks flying in a slowly churning group toward me. Checking their shapes, they were not crows, gulls, or even eagles. I grabbed my camera and continued to smoke the Strang. I've never seen ten hawks in one place. Over the years I've maybe seen four at the most at one time. I can only figure they were two or more adults with their offspring. They didn't fight or call, just kept moving over the house until they disappeared.
Strang is a very good tobacco and I've never had anything like it. The only flavor I could pick out is the taste of dried blackberry leaves. Not the fruit. The dried leaves. It had a good nicotine hit and apparently can summon hordes of animals like some kind of Druid spell. Thanks Nate, for chance to sample this fine tobacco. It was a mind blowing experience.

I've seen turkey buzzards up close and personal. These were WAY too small even for juveniles. The color is different as well as the beaks. This is in the city and they did not stick around. A pair has been nesting here all winter.

Vulture silhouettes to compare to first photo.

peck- I used to chew them. They have astringent properties and are good at reducing swelling in gums. They also help extrude teeth that need pulled. They are one of the reasons I still have nearly all of my choppers.

mso - The idea of you being Dr. Dolittle is enchanting and entirely believable from the little I know about you.
I like the idea they were attracted to the tobacco and approved. Unfortunately, they were already airborne when I lit the Strang, I just hadn't noticed them. They weren't flying very high and didn't circle as a group, just as individuals. The largest, almost certainly an adult, had a yellow beak and no sign of red as a turkey vulture would have. I know the turkey vultures in this area have nearly black feathers. We have good populations of peregrine falcons, blackhawks, harris hawks, red-tailed hawks, golden eagles, turkey vultures, blue heron, great owls. I would have to peg these as harris or red tail. The only one I saw the tail of in the sunlight was a smaller one which may not have had its red mark yet. Again, a pair of hawks have been here all winter and I saw one eating a bird just a few weeks ago on top of a telephone poll in my back yard. I've seen one or both nearly every day this spring. I even watched them ward off an eagle which had bright white legs and a much larger wingspan. I've never seen turkey vultures in or even near big towns.