The photo isn't anything to write home about, but it sure gives the idea of what I saw out the window the other day. I managed to count 21 turkeys, and they stayed for over an hour! This happened in the summer, too, with mothers and their babies.
I've heard that Theodore Roosevelt wanted to make the wild turkey our national bird. I am so fond of them. The wing colors are beautiful, they are pleasant company, other birds and our hens are not afraid of them. Sometimes they go right into the pasture and graze with everyone else. Just the best.
I read this online:
- Native only to North and Central America, the wild turkey was discovered by Europeans in Mexico in the early 1500s.
- By the 1930s, the wild turkey population was at less than 30,000 birds; a victim of market hunting, subsistence hunting and widespread habitat destruction.
- Over the next 50 years, state wildlife agencies funded by hunters’ dollars and working with the National Wild Turkey Federation, captured more than 200,000 wild turkeys and released them in quality wild turkey habitat.
- Today there are more than 7 million wild turkeys roaming the woodlands and river-bottoms across the country.
I thought it was Benjamin Franklin who wanted the turkey as national bird. We see lots of them in the fields around here, too.
ReplyDeleteI did some searching, and the BF story is a myth, and I couldn't find a word about TR!
DeleteI love wild turkeys. If I saw that many, I would be pulling out my camera! I would be very pleased. I think they are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI do, too. And I feel that connection with the dinosaurs.
DeleteNan, I can't explain why, but I found your post to be the most uplifting I have been reading in a while! Maybe it is because there is no mention of the big C, or the big D, or any other of the big issues that the world is struggling with at the moment.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
Here in Germany, of course we do not have wild turkeys. I have only ever seen them on fenced-in pastures, calmly and happily (?) going about their business, with the funny little sounds they make.
Well, that makes me feel terrific! It is indeed such a scary time, perhaps the worst so far, and writing the blog and reading blogs is one way I can escape. I try not to read much news, but I must see how many cases are in my state and where they are. They are rising as in most places. And it seems to be quite often caused by human stupidity. A guy in our state has the virus and went into a restaurant, and now 17 people may have it. Really??
DeleteThat's something I'll never see! I do have regular visits from pheasants.
ReplyDeleteI looked up pheasants and saw pictures. They are beautiful! What a treat for you.
DeleteI love your photo, Nan. I can almost breathe in the air. I have never seen a turkey. I'm not sure there are any in my part of the world.
ReplyDeleteI don't think there are any there! Again, it is so good to hear from you.
DeleteWhat a fun sight. We have turkeys around here but never in our garden.
ReplyDeleteI wonder why? You feed the birds, as I remember so I'd think they would come to your table!
DeleteInteresting and not something we see in the UK, although I did get chased by a farmyard goose in the park today while trying to take a photograph of it - they are LARGE!
ReplyDeleteI've heard that geese are really awful! They are often used as guard animals. The rottys of the bird world. Very scary!
DeleteWe get so excited here about the flock of five that visit us so I'm pretty sure we would be freaking out counting 21. Isn't it nice to be given a moment like you had with the turkeys during days noted more for bad news than good?
ReplyDeleteIt really is nice having all the birds around. Your five may someday be more!
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