IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTICS: 

Wingspan 6 feet; length, 27 inches. Brownish/black body, the feather less head is black in immature birds, red in adults. Wings are held in a V when soaring unlike eagles which hold their wings straight out. Birds rock or appear unsteady in flight. 

The type in the Yarmouth area are much smaller then the above description. 

Peak Periods---Feb.4th -14 Vultures on the ground feeding            feb.6th 12 Turkey Vultures      Feb.7th  15 Turkey Vultures.Feb .8th--11 Turkey Vultures.Feb. 10th. at 1:00 pm. there were 25 on the ground feeding. S.J.H.

Comments: Peak period to see birds seems to be between 12:00 noon and 1:00pm Jan.29 at that time-12 vultures.Jan. 30th at that time 14 vultures Feb.1st. 14 vultures and 2 Ravens. and on Jan 26th there was a red tail hawk that dropped in.

Comments: January 30th. 12:45 pm. There were 8  vultures on the ground feeding at that time.   S.J.H. 

Reply:
According to this bird list they do winter in Nova Scotia.

http://museum.gov.ns.ca/mnh/nature/winbirds/biglist.htm

1) Where's the best place to study them around here?
In Yarmouth they frequent the Pembrooke-Overton-Milton area.  I have also seen them picking up some dead object on the road by the South Ohio off ramp.

2)  Where do they nest?
Turkey vultures do not actually build a nest.

3) What brought them here to N.S. as it's a tropical bird?
They have been here before note question below.  Maybe the climate is warming. Maybe populations are increasing and they are expanding their range.   Maybe they are not as tropical perceived.  It may be part of a normal cycle,( Example:  I have a cactus growing in my back yard it survived last winter out their and is still doing well.) Our variety is much smaller.

4) Appr. how many turkey vultures are there around here? 
I don't think anyone can give you an exact count.  My guess is maybe 50 + scattered through various areas from the valley across to the South Shore. (Piers' notes refer to museum specimens (not extant) taken from Clarks Harbour, Shelburne County, in fall 1892 and from Pugwash, Cumberland County, about 1899 (S)
Bird Counts: http://www.juneswift.ca/October04.html

5) What do they feed on? Road kill? Or the fish? Or what kind of food are they looking for?
They will feed on freshly killed animals,  they do not like rotten meat.

The following link will provide you with some interesting information on this fascinating bird.
TURKEY VULTURE tidbits . . . . .  http://www.valleywild.org/TVfacts.htm
Range and Voice: http://www.percevia.com/explorer/db/birds_of_north_america_western/obj/117/target.aspx

Question:  I live on the mood rd.out by elenwood park. there was what we thought was a turkey vulture. But it looked more grey with a bald head and only a little red under it's neck. Would this be an immature bird?     Thanks sally 

Reply:  I am not a bird expert but you assessment may be correct. They are not that spectacular looking and you would need a good look to see the markings .  On report was that there were 6 on the road at same time  Starrs Rd. 

I have not yet been able to get a good picture of one. I have seen them on several occasions flying over Yarmouth

"Description Length: 66-81 cm. Adults: Head and upper neck bare, skin crimson; rest of plumage blackish, paler on flight feathers; bill stout and hooked, grayish white. Immature: Similar but head and neck are covered with dark, fur-like feathers." (2)