Turkey time!

[linrose]

The turkeys are travelling in groups again, except for one mama and her 6 young who keep to themselves. We've been seeing them every day in the field. Here's a group from this morning.

[dapjwy]

Originally Posted by linrose

The turkeys are travelling in groups again, except for one mama and her 6 young who keep to themselves. We've been seeing them every day in the field. Here's a group from this morning.

Your picture made me smile. Your property looks beautiful and the addition of the turkeys passing through just makes it more beautiful/interesting. I like seeing your prarie project in the foreground by the fence.

Several weeks ago, I startled a wild turkey as I came around a bend in the path--and it sure startled me too. I had the camera in hand and didn't even think to take a picture until it was nearly out of sight--and came out out of focus.

[will-o-wisp]

linrose, wonderful pictures of the turkeys. Nice to see them in a natural environment.

I haven't seen any turkeys this year but last year there was 1 lone wild turkey all summer in our neighborhood that visited backyards. If he was in your driveway you had to wait until he chose to leave.
My suburban neighborhood borders a very urban city so it is quite unusual to see them so far down from the natural areas.

[havalotta]

What biiiiiiig eyes we have.

[linrose]

Great pic hava! It's hard to get that close to them.

[havalotta]

Driving down the highway with my trusty side kick near me works wonders.

[havalotta]

ALMOST time

for that nice succulent turkey

DINNER!

Happy thanksgiving everyone!

[linrose]

Speaking of turkeys I saw this interesting show on Nature on PBS last night about a guy in Florida that raised a brood of turkeys from eggs. He lived with them for a year with no contact with people. It showed the interaction he had with them and how he learned to "talk turkey" and all their different vocalizations, over 20 I think. It also showed their curiosity and genetic stamp on how to react to other creatures and different objects around them, for instance they knew the difference between a rattlesnake and a rat snake without having encountered them before and acted accordingly. Really facinating stuff.

It did get a little weird when he stated he was "in love" with one of the turkeys he named "Sweet Pea" and started eating grasshoppers and crickets in the field right along with the turkeys when the went on their daily walks. Then after Sweet Pea was killed he took up with one of the males he called his "brother" until the turkey attacked him one day and he whacked it with a big tree branch.

There might be an underlying message there somewhere. The postscript said he was now living in Wyoming with a pack of mule deer. Hmmmm.... I don't think this guy likes people very much.

[havalotta]

Interesting story until he weird-ed out.

[Sage]

Sicko