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WILD TURKEY VISITORS
How Do You Feel About Turkeys as Backyard Visitors?
They take over our entire yard whenever they come calling.
The first flock rushes into our yard with the first light of dawn, crowding and jostling for the seed scattered under the bird feeders. Some need to quench their thirst, surrounding and sharing one of many water bowls, or, like people, they form an orderly queue, patiently waiting their turn for a sip.
Years ago, turkeys were not the ubiquitous backyard creatures they are today — snarling traffic, attacking their reflections on shiny vehicle surfaces, or intimidating humans with aggressive displays. And let’s not forget their ever-present poop, forcing you to check where you place your foot.
Forty-some years ago, several dozen wild turkeys, imported from New York state, were released in Massachusetts to rebuild our over-hunted population. Today, the count is estimated to be 30,000 plus prehistoric-appearing creatures roaming the countryside, streets, towns, and cities. We host several dozen of these ungainly creatures daily.
When I appear with grain for them, the females panic, bumping into each other in their effort to flee. Not the big, strutting, fanned-tail males (they remind me of majestic frigate ships under full sail). They bluster and gobble but eventually…