Wild Turkeys: Birds of Courage

 

Wild Turkeys: Birds of Courage

Written by Kristine Manganelli (Somerset County 4-H Coordinator)

Rafter of Turkeys

Rafter of Turkeys

Lately, I’ve been having turkey sightings in my yard. They appear in groups or flocks called “rafters” of up to 20 or more, and forage through my yard. They only leave the woods edge to indulge in fallen acorns closer to the house. The word turkey has a second meaning in our language of silly or even dumb. But turkeys are smarter then we give them credit for, and if you get to see a Tom with his feathers in full display, you will be reminded of their majesty.

Contrary to popular myth, Benjamin Franklin did not advocate the turkey as the American national symbol, but he did believe they were birds of courage. In a letter to his daughter he wrote that the bald eagle was not a fit symbol of the United States as he considered them to be birds of bad moral character. He thought their vicious behavior and willingness to steal prey from competitors was disgraceful. On the other hand, Franklin described turkeys as respectable, and thus a more apt description of the United States.

Turkeys are native to America and found in 49 states- all except Alaska. They are able to live in many eco-systems, from forest to swamp to desert, preferring the edge of woodlands near open spaces. They are non-migrant birds and live in this area year-round. Turkeys are only found in the Americas, so why do we call them Turkeys? Historians believe colonial settlers were reminded of similar birds that came to Europe from Turkey, and decided to coin them with this name.

Turkeys usually get around on foot, but contrary to popular belief, they are also strong fliers and roost overnight in treetops. Turkeys have a super sense of vision and can see 3 times more clearly than 20/20 vision with a 270 degree field of vision, and the ability to see in color. They can weigh up to 20 pounds, making them one of our largest and heaviest birds.

Turkeys are omnivorous; their diet consists mostly of plant matter such as seeds, nuts, berries, leaves, and grass. However, they may also mix in animal matter like insects, small frogs, or lizards. They are foragers, and gather food as they walk by scratching away leaf litter to expose food. They rely on what is available seasonally, so in the fall when oaks drop their acorns, you may see a flock of turkeys spending time in your yard because acorns are a favorite! As they mainly forage at dawn and dusk, this is when you will have the best chance of turkey sightings.

Like humans, turkeys practice daily grooming rituals called “preening.” Aside from feeding, this is how turkeys spend a majority of the day. These behaviors include dusting, sunning, anting, feather preening and stretching. Dusting comes before the other steps, and helps maintain plumage condition by removing buildup. Baby turkeys or “poults” instinctively dust at just 2-4 days old.

Sunning helps regulate body temperature and kill or dislodge bacteria and parasites. Anting is when turkeys sit on anthills and disturb them so ants crawl on their bodies. While it is not entirely clear why turkeys and other birds exhibit this behavior, one theory is that some ant species are high in formic acid. This acid may help with pests, but also may sooth skin as turkeys are observed anting before feather moulting. Feather preening is similar to brushing your hair; it aligns feathers properly for aerodynamic shape. When preening, birds spread oil from a gland at the base of their tail over the feathers to keep them waterproof. This gland can be seen by humans when cooking Thanksgiving turkey.

Wild turkey populations plummeted in the 19th century as a result of hunting and habitat loss from logging and land clearing. In fact, turkey populations all but disappeared, with national numbers as low as 30,000 in the 1930s. The reintroduction of the wild turkey is considered one of the most successful conservation efforts in North America as populations have been restored to 7 million! In New Jersey about 40 years ago, 22 turkeys were reintroduced. Current populations in our state are now around 20,000! Turkey populations rise with warm, dry springs, but decline with wet, cold springs. This weather makes it more difficult for eggs and poults to survive.

Male Turkey Displaying Tail Feathers

Male Turkey Displaying Tail Feathers

Perhaps the turkey boom can be partially attributed to their prolific breeding habits. Each spring, male turkeys called “Toms” mate with several females or “hens.” The famous gobble is the mating call of Toms. But the real show stopper is when they fan out their beautiful tail feather plumage (tails have 18 feathers) and swell up their face wattles in an elaborate courtship display. In this position, Toms will “strut” or walk while shaking and making humming sounds, in an effort to impress a mate. Each hen can lay up to 20 eggs and may have multiple broods per season.

The strut is also used to establish dominance in the flock. In the turkey world, the pecking order or social hierarchy enables a flock to remain calm and orderly, as it creates rules for who has access to resources like food and breeding rights.

Get Outside

This time of year it is likely to see turkey flocks in your yard or while hiking in the woods. Use the ID guide from the Delaware Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Control to discover whether the turkeys in your yard are Gobblers (males), Hens (females), or Poults (youth).

Sources:

 
Somerset County 4-H