41 Return of the Turkey Trots!

The turkeys have returned!

Not the ugly turkey vultures from last year, 
 but the wild turkeys!

A large flock have been trotting around our yard this summer.

You may remember our first encounter with the wild turkeys and hubby's trying to be sneaky and snap some photos, other wise you can find the story here.

Our population has definitely increased. We were really unaware until hubby saw some thrashing and movement in our front wooded area gazing out the window one day. Those first hurried photos did not turn out so well but he managed to capture them continuing on their wandering through the yard through the bedroom window that faces the back yard. Not as clear as he would like them, but not to bad through double panes of glass and a screen (and dirt!)

slowly trotting along the edge of the woods
click on any photos to enlarge, please ask to copy

Wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) live in woods in parts of North America (pretty much in all of the lower 48 states) and are the largest native game birds found in this part of the world. They spend their days foraging for food like acorns, seeds, small insects, wild berries, salamanders and other small reptiles and snakes. They spend their nights in low branches of trees (yes, wild turkeys can fly!).

I'm right behind you mom!

The male Wild Turkey (gobblers, tom or jake [juvenile]) provides no parental care. After the female turkey mates (hen or jenny [juvenile]), she prepares a nest usually under a bush in the woods and lays her tan and speckled brown eggs. She incubates as many as 18 eggs at a time.  It takes about a month for the chicks to hatch.  When the eggs hatch, the chicks or poults will follow the female. Mom will stay on the ground with the poults until they can jump up into a tree. She feeds them for a few days, but they quickly learn to feed themselves. Several hens and their broods may join up into bands of more than 30 birds. Winter groups have been seen to exceed 200! I have seen large flocks in open fields, so far this band of 3 hens and 14 chicks are the biggest flock we have noticed in our yard.

It is fun and amusing to watch them trot around the yard either as a disarranged group or in single file. Hubby has often caught them by surprise when opening the door for his morning walk, as they are marching in front of the wild flower garden I replanted this spring ( that is doing horribly). He told me how funny it is to see them walk off and all the sudden a poult will pop out from under some flowers or large patch of grass and scurry to catch up to the group.

my photos are clickable to enlarge, 

please ask if you would like a copy

 Hubby has been keeping an eager eye for our large feathered friends to keep snapping pictures. These above were all taken on the same day. I will share more later as he captures them.

Be sure to link up to share your photos this week, and leave a comment or two and I will be sure to visit yours and comment as well.

 until next time ...

  Faythe

Did you know that like cats and dogs, turkeys are intelligent and sensitive animals who form strong social bonds and show great affection to others. Some wild turkeys that have gotten used to humans and even like having their feathers petted. I wouldn't doubt that hubby will see if he can lure them close enough to feed and try to pet one.