Talk Turkey
They are an amusing horde - about 25 to 30 of these wild turkeys that make a pass at about 7:00 a.m. each morning in front of our porch. I remember the first time I saw wild turkeys up here. I felt very privileged and was fascinated by them. This time of year there is a lot of talking as males are in full voice gobbling their fine points hoping to impress a female.
The males do a distinctive little dance where they fan one wing and hop in a curve in first one direction, then another. They drag the wing tip in the dirt making a mark that is clearly recognizable as the prints of the mating dance. And if that doesn't draw the attention of some fair damsel, then surely the full feathered shaking fan will. They puff up and look so full of themselves. Usually the girls act like they don't know the pompous braggerts are even there and they couldn't be bothered. But, a little later in the spring we will know that some of them must have been bothered as we see hens moving through the brush with long trails of chicks toddling behind.
My husband and I were driving down our road when a car in front of us slowed to a stop to let a big flock of turkeys cross. My husband attempted to speak to the man in the car ahead (as he often does, and to no avail I might add) to encourage him to get going. He explained to the person (who couldn't possibly hear him while in his car) that he should just drive through because the turkeys will move. He pointed out we are always seeing deer hit on the side of the road but who has ever seen a turkey on the side of the road?
Well, indeed they do always get out of the way. But, I thought this might be someone new to our area. Maybe this was the first time they had seen these beautiful huge birds up close. And I did not begrudge him this moment of wonder and privilege. I don't think they will ever become so common place for me that I fail to take notice and delight in them.
