Talking turkey

A few days before Christmas, I was along the river on my way to see some friends. Along the last dirt road before my destination, I spotted a flock of turkeys slowly making their way across the road as they picked through a recent snowfall looking for acorns or other hidden treats to eat. I stopped to watch them for a few minutes from the car (cars make excellent blinds as long as you stay in the car and don’t make loud noises).

I watched them as they made their way to a steep drop-off next to the river, where they disappeared from sight. I was about to drive on when I spotted movement next to the point where I spotted the original flock. A single hen turkey emerged from the brush, and started to walk in the general direction of where the flock disappeared from view. As she walked, it appeared that she was favoring her one foot. A closer look revealed that she was walking on the top surface of her left foot and limped with that foot. She did not appear to be otherwise injured. If she is still a flighted bird, and if she can still perch on a tree branch with her good foot in order to escape predators, she will probably survive the winter. Perhaps a predator had something to do with her original injury.

I have been seeing a lot of turkey tracks in the snow recently, and as you enjoy that holiday turkey on the table, take a quick look out the window; you may have a lot more turkeys in the back yard.

Have a happy and a safe New Year.