Wild Turkeys - Some Curious Facts
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Picture source:
STRATFORD LANDING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
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Wild turkeys are cousins of well known domestic turkeys. Over the period of domestication, they have become very different. Hen raised turkeys have grown in size and lost the ability to fly. They are more tolerant of humans and are accustomed to handouts from feeders.
Wild turkeys are more wary toward people. They live and move in flocks. They can fly pretty well, because they are smaller in size. Although they are considered wild animals, they can be unbelievably fearless and impudent. On one occasion, a flock of wild turkeys surrounded a car, which was driven by Bill Burn, HAI Site Coordinator. That happened not far from the grounds of South Beach Psychiatric Center, Staten Island, where more than 60 species are believed to reside.
The birds circled the car and refused to let it pass. They did not react to the honking of the horn or other attempts by Burn or his companion to ward them
off the car. The gobbling merged into a menacing roar, so the men were reluctant to even get out of the car to push the birds back. Only a piece of food distracted the ungracious turkeys from the car giving the guys a chance to escape.
That actually happened at the time when wild turkeys saturated New York parks. They found the environment suitable for living and nesting. Predator safety is another important factor. Over the last half century, they have grown in numbers from around 2000 in the 1950s to more than 60,000 in the 1990s. Wild turkeys are not very dangerous, but if you happen to be a tiny bit too curious or undesired, you may get a good dozen of painful pecks and nips from a wild turkey.
Wild Turkeys - General Information Links
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Picture source:
STRATFORD LANDING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
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Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) - Scientific classification, life cycle, and natural history of this species. Includes a photo.
Calhoun's Guide Service - Profile of guide services for
trophy bass fishing and the hunting of wild boar, waterfowl, whitetail and turkeys in Florida.
Forest Management for Wild Turkeys - Roads that are closed with locked gates are important for protection of wild turkeys.
Meleagris - Gallopavo - Details about this bird's wildlife distribution, biological data, and habitat requirements
Rio Grande Wild Turkeys - Rio Grande Wild Turkeys. These turkeys don't get as big as most domestic turkeys but are still great eating birds. They are very alert and can fly very well.
Spring Fed-Wild Turkeys Jim Kasper - Outer banks of North Carolina. Forces of nature that drive gobblers to impressive display for the hens.
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources - Hundreds of wild turkeys find new homes in
Utah. About 75 wild turkeys were moved from their South Dakota home to Utah.
West Nile Virus and Wild Turkeys - If domestic turkeys were highly susceptible to West Nile Virus, wild turkeys probably would be too.
Wild NJ - D'Orio. Wild Turkeys - Wild Turkeys - Once Endangered. The way to tell a male turkey is by his snood. Click for Answers to the Trivia Test. Want more information on Wild turkeys?
Wild Turkey Management - Seasonal abundance or scarcities of acceptable and preferred foods bring about changes in both habits and habitats of wild turkeys.
Wild Turkey Management - Wild Turkeys and the Woodland Owner. Due to their particular requirements, woodland changes influence wild turkeys more than other forest game species.
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Picture source:
The Schroeders Trips
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Wild Turkeys - Learn more about wild turkeys by becoming one.
Wild Turkeys - Maryland's Hunters Harvest 2,760 Wild Turkeys in 2004. The reported harvest of 2,760 wild turkeys is nearly 12% below the 2003 near-record harvest of 3,120.
Wild turkeys - Wild turkeys flock to Woodacre's Flanders Ranch. By Gregory Foley
Wild Turkeys - Wild Turkeys from New Mexico Game and Fish and Ben Hanson. Ben Franklin.
Wild Turkeys - Wild Turkeys show up in New York City parks [CNN].
Wild Turkeys and Creeks - Wild Turkeys and Creeks. These are just a few of the observations that appear in the early literature regarding the abundance of wild turkeys.
Wild Turkeys Mating - Millions of wild turkeys can be found performing this ritual throughout the country, in 49 of the 50 states.
Wild Turkeys! - Wild turkeys are certainly not like the birds that end up on your Thanksgiving table. Click here to read about these interesting birds.
Wildlife Management: Eastern Wild Turkeys - Wild Turkeys occur naturally
or have been reestablished in all of Maryland's 23 counties.
Winter Feeding of Wild Turkeys - Guidelines for winter feeding of wild turkeys in New Hampshire.
Wintering Wild Turkeys - Wild turkeys and other wildlife do need high quality winter food. Spring seeps are very important to wintering wild turkeys.
Working With Wildlife - Wild Turkey - In the Southeast, wild turkeys require extensive
forest lands.
Wild Turkeys - Other Wild Turkeys sites
Wild Turkeys - Have you ever wondered how come wild turkeys were named after one of the Middle East countries? That is the result of a mere misidentification. Four centuries ago the Spaniards brought the bird back to Europe. Turkey was a transition country, by way of which a lot of goods arrived in Europe and the British Islands. Somehow the English mistook the name of the country for the name of the bird, which came to England the same way. Even though they soon realized their mistake, the name had stuck.
Wild turkeys were a matter of great interest for Native Americans. There was much ambiguity about the birds. Some tribes scorned wild turkeys, because they believed the bird was naturally craven and poor spirited. They adamantly refused to even eat the turkey for fear of inheriting these traits. 'Turkey' has even become a slang slur for a despicable, stupid and weak person.
