Turkey Tom

10 years ago

I posted these pictures on the New England Gardening Forum but I thought people here might like them too.

Yesterday morning there were 19 turkeys in the yard and one tom started displaying.

Maybe it was too cold or too early but he partially lowered his feathers as if it was just too much work to keep them up.

Or maybe he just didn't want to be watched by a human female. "You looking at me?"

But they're used to me watching and he decided to ignore me, or give me his best profile.

It was chilly, below normal and the enthusiasm just wasn't there yet.

Claire

Comments (7)

catherinet
10 years ago
Great pics Claire! Wish I had turkeys around here.
beegood_gw
10 years ago
What great pictures. Must be so neat to see them all in your yard. Beautiful birds .I raised wild turkeys for a while but that's not the same as seeing them in the wild. Thanks for sharing.
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I would love to see that photo. These turkeys aren't laying eggs right now - are they? I am in SW-NH and I have about 3 dozen wild turkeys coming around for feed now. THe snow is so deep they are getting hungry. Following is a link with instructions on how to post a photo. You have to upload your photo to a on-line service. I use Photobucket.com it's free and easy. It took me a few tries before I figured it out but it's easy. Good luck I hope you can post that photo. Where in SW-NH are you located? I am in Hancock. Here is a link that might be useful: How to Post Photos
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Yes, it happens occasionally that a tom will SET on eggs. It's different than the eagles. In many bird species, both sexes will normally set, and share incubation and feeding duties. Turkeys are not one of them, but it does happen occasionally that a tom will try. Usually he will not set tightly enough for the entire term to actually hatch a clutch out.
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Kind of funny story - a couple of years ago the guy across the street trotted over to show me this mysterious worm he found on his tomato plant. He wondered if it was something very rare because he had never even heard of a worm with horns and perhaps UCONN might be interested in having this specimen and maybe, just maybe, he had discovered something that could be beneficial to some plants here in tobacco valley and he could breed them and make money! He said there were many of them on his three patio tomato plants. "Whatta ya think, Jane? Should I put it in a jar?" I asked to see it in my gloved hand and as this guy was envisioning $50 bills, the silly worm reared it's head with horns and mouth seeking something to bite. I dropped it on the driveway and with a flash of my right foot, the mysterious money-making dream shrank into a bite-less green blob as my neighbor went into one of the most shocked and crestfallen expressions I'd seen in a while. I told him he had lost the horn worm lottery and to go home and squish all the others. I have a feeling that my reputation as a nice neighbor lady turned into tough old broad that day in the driveway. Squish 'em, Pixie, Squish 'em - unless you're going into the horn worm raising business. Jane (aka Hard Hearted Hannah)
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Konrad___far_north
10 years ago
Tom is handsome!..Thanks for sharing these here! ..Just aw-some!
surya55_gw
10 years ago
Thx for the lovely photos. I wish we had them here. Looking at him, you'd never guess it was so cold.
tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱
10 years ago
Nice pix, claire, of a bit of struttin' in the Northeast.

tj
hostanista
10 years ago
What great pics! How close were you - or is that a great big lens on your camera? I've never seen one in my rural back yard but there was one by the highway the other day. Maybe they stay out of my yard because of Mr. Dog. Do they do any damage to perennials or veggies in the yard, I wonder? I would think so....
claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks, all!

Hostanista: These pics were taken from my kitchen window and the turkey was probably fifteen to twenty feet away from the window. I use a Canon Powershot SX30 IS with a 35X zoom but I didn't need it full out.

I put birdseed on the ground in front of the window so I can easily see birds (I also have bird feeders in plain view close by). The turkeys don't damage my perennials as long as there's no birdseed to scratch for around their roots. The neighbor next door has lost veggies although some of that is woodchuck damage. I don't grow veggies myself.

Claire

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Turkey Tom

Comments (7)

catherinet

beegood_gw

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Turkey Tom

Comments (7)

catherinet

beegood_gw

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