We've been watching a wild turkey!

[ICNDonna]

This evening a wild turkey found our yard and has been out there just strolling around. We don't live very far out in the country, but it's far enough that we see deer frequently but this is the first time we've had a turkey in our yard. What fun!

:)
Donna

[VickiB]

They are fun to watch! I always thought they seemed rather drab in color, but one day I saw some under the noon sun. They have a huge range of color reflected in their feathers!

[sailawaygrl]

My parents had two "pet" wild turkeys for a while. They live in the country and one day they just appeared. They weren't afraid of my parents at all and would follow them around like a dog! They had a lot of fun while they were there. They would also visit my parents' neighbor's farm. One day they just stopped coming around. It was fall and we have often wondered if they became someones Thanksgiving dinner!! I never saw them, but it sure sounded like a hoot!!

Sandra

[Mothergoose]

Hi I was out for a walk last summer and saw a strange bird, that I could best discribe as a cross between and goose and Turkey, no one believed me I had seen it. It was just standing by a tree by it's self as if i cound't see it, so I watched it for a while and went on my way.

I tried to find out what it was from a bird watcher and he had no idea and he knew about all the local birds.

By chance I was at a friends who said that the winter before there had been 15 wild turkeys roaming around in that area. Some guy had bought them raised them over the summer and let them all go in the fall, apperently he asked local people (in our rural area) not to feed them. He was trying to see if wild turkeys could live here and survie the winter, which apparently at least one did.

He was wanting to start a business of raising wild turkey to sell. I don't disagree with this but he needs to keep them in a secure area, i don't think it is ever a good idea to bring in an animal that is not native to the area and let it go into the wild. History shows this can have very bad consequences

MG

[nanawaggs]

Hi, Donna ~ How fun to have a turkey wandering in your own yard! We were visiting my SIL in Grants Pass, OR and they had families of turkeys come through their property. While we were having a 4th of July BBQ 2 Mamas and their babies came trotting through. The one mama took her's home after a while & the the babies of the other went through a loosely woven chain fence so they were on one side and mama on our side. She was going crazy trotting back and forth for about 20 minutes but would come within about 3 feet of openings at each end and the poor thing just couldn't figure out how to get to her children. She'd call to them and of course like all kids, they just ignored her!!! One man in our group finally forced her to the end of the fence where she was home free to round em up and head for home. We kinda saw the reason why people didn't want the turkey as our National Bird!!!!

I envy you having the wildlife so near....we just love the outdoors. The closest we come is about 20-30 hummingbirds, some wild canaries,lots of lizzards, an occasional raccoon, opossum, skunk!!!

Thanks for sharing the smile!!! We had a lovely time in OR!!!!

[mary124]

In the 8 years that I have lived here (we live in the country but the cities are not too far away) we have had a bunch of cows in our yard (left a present or two as well). When they heard their bell they all lined up and left down the road.
One of the neighbors near us has a "small farm" has 1 cow, house, numerous roosters, peacocks (both male and female) chickens goats (goats are great for keeping the lawn in good shape). My little Emzy, we try and not let her get out as she will take off till she runs out of energy- but right before she comes home she will go into their yard and stick her nose under the fence and see if she can see anything. I have learned when she is back in our area, all I have to do is open the car door (if one of the cars are there) and she comes running, if however there is no car I call her till I am horse and tell her I have a piece of cheese in my hand.