The Night A Fancy Buzzard Throws A Party

A flock of buzzards changed our city - and gave us a reason to throw one of the most memorable New Year’s Eve parties in Georgia. We trace the surprising path from a real infrastructure headache on Perry’s water towers to a smart, humane solution and a celebration now recognized by USA Today. 

You’ll hear the true story behind the migratory route that brought vultures to our skyline, how permits and a clever decoy ended the damage, and why we chose to lean into the moment by creating Bob the Buzzard, our bow-tied host for the big night.

We open the doors to Historic Downtown Perry and walk through what makes the Buzzard Drop special: free activities that welcome families, live entertainment that keeps the energy high, and a festive lineup of local food and beverage options. The kitty countdown lets kids and early-to-bed guests ring in the new year without the late night, while the midnight countdown brings the classic thrill, complete with photos and dancing alongside Bob. It’s a celebration built on accessibility, community pride, and a dose of small-town charm that feels anything but small.

Along the way, we share how local government problem solving can spark cultural wins - balancing wildlife considerations, infrastructure protection, and permits with creativity and hospitality. Whether you’re planning your first visit or returning for another year, this guide helps you make the most of the night and understand the heart behind the tradition. Join us downtown, say hello to Bob, and help us welcome the new year together. Subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a quick review to help more people discover Perry’s Buzzard Drop.

NOTE: The 2026 Kiddie Countdown begins at 9:00 p.m. instead of the usual 8:00 p.m.

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Visit us at perry-ga.gov.

We hope to see you around in our amazing community...Where Georgia Comes Together.

Episode Transcript

SPEAKER_00 (00:00):
Welcome to the Inside Perry Georgia podcast,

(00:03):
where you get an inside look atPerry, Georgia's local
government.
We're glad you chose Perry,where people make the
difference.
Whether you stay a few hours ora lifetime, your time in Perry
will be rewarding andunforgettable.
I'm Taffla Clark, CommunicationsDirector for the City of Perry.
And in today's episode, we talkabout the nationally recognized

(00:24):
Perry Buzzardrop New Year's Evecelebration.
So we've always got so manyquestions.
Why is there a buzzard drop inPerry, Georgia?
Well, let's explain thefascinating history about how
the Perry buzzard drop came tohistoric downtown Perry on New

(00:46):
Year's Eve.
So Perry is in the middle of thebuzzard migration route from
north to south, and then ofcourse from south to north.
And while the buzzards arepassing through Perry, they love
to hang out on Perry's watertowers and party.
They hang out long enough tomake a big mess, which of course
causes infrastructure damage.

(01:07):
So the administration at thetime tried everything to fix
this problem.
It wasn't until they discoveredthat the only thing that keeps
the buzzards off the watertowers is one of their own kind.
Shall we say frozen in time.
So with permission and permitsby the Georgia Department of
Natural Resources, a plasticbuzzard with real buzzard wings

(01:31):
hangs from each water tower.
And since then, there's been nomore buzzards hanging out on
Perry's water towers.
So back in 2013, Perry embracedthis unusual situation by
creating Bob the Buzzard and theNew Year's Eve celebration in
historic downtown Perry, thePerry Buzzard Drop.

(01:52):
This event is nationallyrecognized by USA Today, and
each year is full of newsurprises and activities.
Our classic attractions alwaysinclude Bob the Buzzard, which
is our buzzard gentleman,complete with bow tie and top
hat.
He's always ready for a photoopportunity and dancing through

(02:12):
until midnight as we bring inthe new year.
Free activities and liveentertainment are always part of
the free Perry Buzzard Drop.
Of course, we have food andbeverage selections available
all throughout the night.
And of course, we have the kittycountdown at 8 o'clock PM,
designated for the young andyoung at heart who can't quite

(02:34):
make it to midnight.
You're invited to ring in theNew Year in historic downtown
Perry at the nationallyrecognized Perry Buzzardrop.
Learn more in the show notes forthis year's celebration.
Happy New Year from all of us atthe City of Perry.
You can learn more about Perry'snationally recognized Buzzer

(02:57):
Drop New Year's Eve celebrationby visiting our website at
Perry-GA.gov.
Thanks for listening to InsidePerry, your inside look at
Perry, Georgia's localgovernment.
Take a look at the show notesfor more information about
today's episode.
If you like Inside Perry, weencourage you to subscribe and

(03:18):
share the podcast with yourfriends and family.
We look forward to seeing youaround in our amazing community
where Georgia comes together.