Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Spring Turkeys

The perfect days of spring have finally arrived; the air is fresh and clear, coaxed across the countryside by a gentle breeze, and the green, galloping across the landscape, has won its race against winter's brown.




Eastern wild turkeys frequent this area and this year 2 gobblers have been entertaining 3 hens (and us, from behind the windows).  From one side of the house, we'll see the dominant gobbler strutting for the hens...




...and then we'll hear a gobble from the other direction, and see the sub-dominant gobbler all puffed out, practicing his dance with the mincing steps and fanning tail, until the larger bird will come and chase him off.  Then he'll fold down his feathers and slink away, only to strike up again when the boss has left.

The big guy has been absent the last couple of days, probably off with his harem of hens, but junior is hanging around near the house, eating clover and still practicing his steps, hoping something might happen to his opponent.  Turkey fights can get pretty nasty.  He'd better watch his back.