Thanksgiving Nature Notes

Let's talk turkey,
Before you gobble down that yummy Thanksgiving dinner, take a few Meleagris gallopavo language lessons. That's scientificeeze for Wild Turkey. Peck at the link below to understand some turkey talk:
http://www.nwtf.org/special_events/calling_contest_turkey_calls.html

You'll notice that gobbling is barely even mentioned, the last vocalization on the list. You won't hear it this time of year in the wild, as males gobble to attract females during the mating season in spring.
Going the way of many wild foods, like cod that disappeared from over-fishing, turkeys were nearly hunted to extinction in the wild. They were completely extripated from New England and most of their range by 1900. But at least for turkeys, we have a happy ending to the story. Re-introduction of native stock wild birds, in the 1940's worked well. In fact, too well. For today, turkeys range across the 48 contiguous states, even into areas where they did not originally occur.
These past few weeks on my way to work, I've seen two large turkey flocks, about 30 birds in each. This time of year the hens travel together separately from the toms. One flock of turkeys was stuffing themselves with wind-fall apples. And I must confess I thought to myself, mmmmmm apple stuffing. Turkeys also feast upon acorns, beech nuts, buds, salamanders and insects.
And as you savor the delicious flavor of your Thanksgiving turkey (or tofurkey), pause to remember that we could well be feasting upon fishy tasting eagle. For good 'ol Ben Franklin wanted Wild Turkey to be our national bird. In his own words,
the Eagle "where, too lazy to fish for himself, he watches the Labour of the Fishing Hawk; and when that diligent Bird has at length taken a Fish, and is bearing it to his Nest for the Support of his Mate and young Ones, the Bald Eagle pursues him and takes it from him.
"With all this Injustice, he is never in good Case but like those among Men who live by Sharping & Robbing he is generally poor and often very lousy. Besides he is a rank Coward: The little King Bird not bigger than a Sparrow attacks him boldly and drives him out of the District. He is therefore by no means a proper Emblem for the brave and honest Cincinnati of America who have driven all the King birds from our Country .
For the Truth the Turkey is in Comparison a much more respectable Bird, and withal a true original Native of America . . . He is besides, though a little vain & silly, a Bird of Courage, and would not hesitate to attack a Grenadier of the British Guards who should presume to invade his Farm Yard with a red Coat on."
http://www.greatseal.com/symbols/turkey.html

For more on our wild turkeys, check out:
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Wild_Turkey.html

Happy Thanksgiving from
The Dorr Museum of Natural History