Only in Minnesota.
The Wild Turkeys take so long to cross the road that they stop traffic.
We were at the crossroads watching them cross a ways down the road. Far Guy was hollering run..turkeys ..run! They were just poking along taking their sweet time..there were many turkeys in that flock rafter. Yes, a group of turkeys is called a rafter.
Luckily it was Edie and she brakes for turkeys. There were turkeys flying and running every which way. I did not realize that they could fly so high when they want to.
They are still coming into our yard to feed..how they can tell when Chance is indoors is beyond me.
That is the tom in charge on the right. He leads his group of hens into the feeders. He has a tuft of modified feathers called a beard in the center of his chest. You can also see the spur on his leg. He is also larger than all the hens. He has 7 lady friends and sometimes 8. They usually stay about 20 minutes and then they wander off..unless Chance barks. He watches them from the landing.
I usually watch them out the window and take a few photos..looking for that perfect shot:)
One winter's day about 1985 one of our adult grandsons decided to use his new video camera to take some close-up shots of the twenty-some wild turkeys in our back yard. Well, ignoring our warnings, our grandson waded right on in - and he soon quite painfully learned firsthand that it is not smart to get between a tom turkey and his hens.
ReplyDeleteThey are a sight to behold.
ReplyDeleteYou are so lucky to have the Turkeys come in the yard to eat, love that.......so happy she stopped for them......That is one heck of a beard Tom has.....Enjoy the live wildlife pictures you post.......Blessings Francine.
ReplyDeleteWhat IS that long hair like thing on the Tom? Is it really his beard growing right out of his chest? :-)
ReplyDeleteyes that is his beard! It grows right there on the center of his chest. I am not sure of it's function other than to tell the males from the females:)
DeleteThey are such amazing creates. I remember long ago when a person never saw wild turkeys (at least I never did). Now they are everywhere. I had a friend who used to hunt them for food. From all the bird seed they eat I bet they would taste good.
ReplyDeleteThe day we left, we had twenty or so come in to our feeder. That was the first time, we've had them!! (That I'm aware of!!) They are getting to be so many rafters of them. Wonder what the DNR is going to do next!!!
ReplyDeleteI haven't yet seen turkeys in MN, but I have in Wis. Do you know how far north they live?
ReplyDeleteTheir range extends one county (50 miles) North of where I live..that is as far North as they get in Minnesota:)
DeleteTurkeys are interesting, but lovely they ain't! Never forget my first look at one, a female; I thought I'd had too much diet pepsi! Your photos are very good - thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI bet they are driving him freakin nuts!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is the first year that I have ever seen turkeys in our area. Southern Iowa is loaded with them. I guess the lack of snow kept them in hiding in the timber all winter last year. They certainly think you are in their forest and have little fear of houses.
ReplyDeleteGood photos!
ReplyDeleteThe wild turkeys here seem to stay in the fields even though we have tons of feeders and seed all over the place . Awesome photos . Yup I am the same telling things to get out of the way and go go or fly fly it's funny that I think it is only country people that do this for we seem to think they know what and can hear what we are telling them lol ! 7 females all for him cheeky Mr Turkey they must be driving him mad lol ! Have a good day !
ReplyDeleteWhat a sight to see. The wild turkeys are awesome.
ReplyDeleteI always like the turkey photos as we don't have them here. Yah I guess they'd have a problem crossing a road as some things they're not too smart about.
ReplyDeleteI had a girl friend, that was driving and have one of those suckers fly right into her window! We will see them quite often out here.
ReplyDeleteHmmm...now there's a bumper sticker that can be read in more ways than one: "Warning: I break for turkeys!"
ReplyDelete;)
Wow, thanks for the education....turkeys with beards!
ReplyDeleteI counted over 50 in my yard the other day. Soon they'll be gathering in anticipation of spring. That's when the gatherings get HUGE! And yes, those suckers can fly. I watch them each evening taking off into the pine trees for their nightly nesting. And ever once and a while I have to go outside and tell them to get off the roof because they sound like a heard of elephants clomping around.
ReplyDeleteI've always wondered what wild turkeys look like close up. Since they scratched my brand new truck years ago...I've been on the lookout for those bandits.
ReplyDeleteJen