A Gobbler Up Close

Saturday, March 3, 2012,

I was out east a few days back, ostensibly to help a friend deliver an armoire to Bridgehampton. He didn’t really need my help but it gave us an excuse to check possible kayak launch sites and stop in at Morton Refuge. I was hoping to see some turkeys. I had seen four during my last visit at the start of the year but I failed to get any decent pics. I had some better luck this time. During our hike at Morton we came across the same bachelor group twice. All males, hence the name bachelor group, they were foraging in an open field when we first encountered them. A bit later on we saw them again, this time in a wooded area. These shots, both of the same bird, were taken there. These pics may also explain why turkeys have segregated flocks.  Think about it. If you were a turkey hen, would you want to look at that all year round? It’s amazing that the males are willing to hang out with each other. Maybe it’s a case of misery loving company. Or, perhaps, here is an example of beauty being in the eye of the beholder. I can’t speak for others but, in my mind’s eye, there few things more beautiful than a turkey on the Thanksgiving table. Yes, I realize I’ve drifted off topic but when I think turkey, I think Thanksgiving. Yum. JK

JK

Wild Turkeys

Monday, August 4, 2008

This is the group of Wild Turkeys that I was looking for when I came across the fawn that I posted a pic of last Monday. When I first found the turkeys it was still raining and very dark in the woods. The pics I took didn’t come out very well at all. Later in the day, the skies cleared and so I thought I might try to find the turkeys again. After searching for only about twenty minutes I found them in a clearing that borders my neighbors property. Finding wildlife is rarely that easy. I was lucky, pure and simple.

This group is comprised of a hen and her young, which are called poults. I counted six babies but my neighbor had counted seven a week before. It could be that I missed one in the woods but it could also be that one was lost to predators. There is a fox living in the area as well as several hawks. JK