Turkeys being Turkeys

[markiver54]

I guess they don't know Thanksgiving is near. These were in a neighbor's yard this afternoon. Before that, they were in my yard. It was definitely a first for my neighborhood.

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[Vaquero]

Couldn't get close enough the ole Garden gun?

RP

[markiver54]

Probably not. The 410 mighta worked though.

[Centaur]

We have a neighbor that feeds them. Not uncommon to have 20 or 30 of them in our front yard.

[Sir Henry]

We have a neighbor that feeds them. Not uncommon to have 20 or 30 of them in our front yard.

I have about 20, two hens and a bunch of chicks that are now almost as big as mom.

[Hatchdog]

What turkeys, all I see is those leaves.

[markiver54]

Aint THAT the truth.

[Centaur]

These were in my yard a little while ago. Town turkeys would be easy money for a garden gun.

[North Country Gal]

Yeah, pretty amazing bird. They were stocked up in our north woods some years, back, and are now very common. At the time they were released, the biologists had some doubts as to whether they'd survive or snowy, north woods winters, but they've done great.

We have a neighborhood flock, too. Had them walk though the yard just last week.

[markiver54]

The odd thing here is that I'm only about 4 blocks from downtown. They are un-common here, however, we do get the occasional bear. It was a cloudy/foggy day. I guess they were finding something they like in the grass. Not sure what Turkys like to eat.

[North Country Gal]

Turkeys are omnivores, meaning they can use a wide variety of food sources, but typically nuts (especially acorns), but also a wide variety of plants and seeds, leaf buds, fruits, and insects in the summer. Adults don't have much in the way of predators. They are well able to take care of themselves. They can actually be pretty aggressive. Predation is usually only an issue for nests and young ones, but turkeys have a pretty good ability to nest, again, if need be.

[markiver54]

Maybe they were eating acorns then. Lord knows, there are bushels of them around here. probably going after all the pieces the squirrels leave.

[Vaquero]

The odd thing here is that I'm only about 4 blocks from downtown. They are un-common here, however, we do get the occasional bear. It was a cloudy/foggy day. I guess they were finding something they like in the grass. Not sure what Turkys like to eat.

Edit: Oops, looks like NCG beat me to it.

Here ya go...
Wild turkeys are omnivorous, foraging on the ground or climbing shrubs and small trees to feed. They prefer eating acorns, nuts and other hard mast of various trees, including hazel, chestnut, hickory, and pinyon pine as well as various seeds, berries such as juniper and bearberry, buds, leaves, fern fronds,[19] roots and insects. Turkeys also occasionally consume amphibians and small reptiles such as salamanders,[19] lizards and small snakes. Poults have been observed eating insects, berries, and seeds. Wild turkeys often feed in cow pastures, sometimes visit backyard bird feeders, and favor croplands after harvest to scavenge seeds on the ground. Turkeys are also known to eat a wide variety of grasses.

RP

[markiver54]

Thanks Randy! Given the info provided by you and NCG, I now have a pretty good idea what attracted them.

[Hatchdog]

We have a big group of what I think are Hawthorne bushes that produce berries every year. It’s fun to watch the turkeys hop up to reach berries on the branches. I understand they really like a good grasshopper too.

[Mr. Neutron]

I guess they were finding something they like in the grass. Not sure what Turkys like to eat.

Cranberry Sauce, maybe? Ham?