Wild Turkey
A few miles up the highway from us lives a family of wild turkeys. The highway passes over a creek where there are trees and brush for the birds to forage and hide in. Every once in a while you see them by the side of the road or trying to cross it.
The first time I saw them was in July when we were on our way to town to pick up our keets and chicks.
Over the summer, we spotted the turkeys many times. The young ones grew up, of course, and by November we consistently saw three adults together. One morning, Roy spotted the three perched on the back of a pick-up at a near-by house. He joked that the owner should claim himself a turkey dinner for Thanksgiving.
Well, I'm not sure if someone did get themselves a turkey dinner or if the turkeys decided to go their own separate ways, but last week I took this picture.
One lone turkey standing by the side of the road.
When I drove up to take the picture, she didn't run off, but just stood there and talked turkey at me. Maybe she was lonely, who knows. I just hope she didn't stop and talk to anyone in a SUV with a gun rack . . . I'd like to see a turkey family here next year!
By the way, she easily was as tall as the top of the window on the door of my Honda. Not a little bird!
Those who have lived here longer than myself say that it's been a long time since they've seen so many wild turkeys and pheasants around. I'm no wildlife expert, so I can only speculate as to why that is. Maybe they declined because of the many years of drought or the loss of habitat? Maybe they are coming back because of the slightly increased moisture or all of the windbreaks that have been planted in the last decade or the growing popularity of no-till farming.
Well, whatever the reason, I'm glad to see the wildlife repopulating the area. Especially when they stop and pose!
The first time I saw them was in July when we were on our way to town to pick up our keets and chicks.
Over the summer, we spotted the turkeys many times. The young ones grew up, of course, and by November we consistently saw three adults together. One morning, Roy spotted the three perched on the back of a pick-up at a near-by house. He joked that the owner should claim himself a turkey dinner for Thanksgiving.
Well, I'm not sure if someone did get themselves a turkey dinner or if the turkeys decided to go their own separate ways, but last week I took this picture.
One lone turkey standing by the side of the road.
When I drove up to take the picture, she didn't run off, but just stood there and talked turkey at me. Maybe she was lonely, who knows. I just hope she didn't stop and talk to anyone in a SUV with a gun rack . . . I'd like to see a turkey family here next year!
By the way, she easily was as tall as the top of the window on the door of my Honda. Not a little bird!
Well, whatever the reason, I'm glad to see the wildlife repopulating the area. Especially when they stop and pose!
Posted by Susan at December 9, 2009 
Categories: Rural Living
Tags: hunting population turkey wild moisture no till drought windbreak
Categories: Rural Living
Tags: hunting population turkey wild moisture no till drought windbreak
Comments