turkeys

[redbird]

We have been seeing wild turkeys again in the last few days. I stopped to photograph a pair of turkeys this afternoon, and a passerby told me that he had been feeding turkeys, and specifically that one of them was eating peanuts from his hand.

I just said that they're not afraid of anything, but can be aggressive, especially in mating season, then continued on my way.

This is in Boston, where we've had a very mild winter, though today is closer to normal for winter (27 F/-3 C when I was out earlier).

Comments

Yay!

[ysabetwordsmith]

>>We have been seeing wild turkeys again in the last few days.<<

That is so awesome. :D

>> I just said that they're not afraid of anything, but can be aggressive, especially in mating season, then continued on my way.<<

Yyyyeah. Turkeys are the top of the birdfeeder pecking order. Ahead of raptors. Because they are just that fucking big and mean.

Using a computer program, Miller collapsed that data set into “ability scores” for each species: a single number that describes each species’ ability to compete with others. It ranged from an alpha bird (the Wild Turkey at 66.93) to the meekest of the bunch (Eurasian Tree Sparrow at –24.46).

>>This is in Boston, where we've had a very mild winter, though today is closer to normal for winter (27 F/-3 C when I was out earlier).<<

That used to be typical here, we'd spend much of the winter in the 20s, sometimes 30s, sometimes teens, but rarely above freezing for long. Now it's been mostly mild, and it's supposed to rain again next week. 0_o In January.

[a_natural_beauty]

I wonder what it would be like to be that close to and feed a wild turkey! I bet your photos turned out nicely!

[redbird]

I'm not going to feed them, for my safety as much as theirs, but it's easy to be close to wild turkeys in this neighborhood. Sometimes I need to cross the street because there are several turkeys blocking the sidewalk.

The local turkeys sometimes stand in intersections or on trolley tracks, and don't move right away when the driver honks. (The MBTA drivers try not to hit turkeys, stalled cars, or anything else that's blocking the tracks.)

[a_natural_beauty]

Oh, I don't blame you! I'm glad you are safe!
It sounds like they sort have taken over the neighbored! :-p