As autumn progresses and the roving bands of hopeful children from Halloween’s
festivities delve into their hoards of candy, our local bands of roving turkeys still make an occasional appearance as they leave the relative safety of the neighborhood creek bed and explore the less-protected open spaces, foraging for acorns, taking dust baths under the large pine trees, and occasionally squatting down to earth and stretching out in the sunlight. The group that wandered nearby yesterday was nine in number and, though
several of them were quite large, I don’t think any were mature adults. We love to know they are around and their presence adds a welcome feeling of the wild to the otherwise fairly sedate environs. But they’d do well, at this time of year, to seek a bit more seclusion down in the woods. Don’t they know that Thanksgiving’s just around the corner?
krikitarts 
I guess they just like living on the edge :). These are great shots!!
You are certainly right, Cindy. Glad you like them!
I’ve never seen turkeys in the wild…wonderful photos, Gary….
They really are magnificent, but another descriptor pops into consideration when one sees the details of their features–it’s a four-letter one, and it starts with “u.” Though they must be attractive enough to each other!
Well of course…how could we find feathered-dinosaurs attractive…we’d have to be one to do so!
It’s just good they don’t get in to the Halloween candy…they’d be all hyper!
Great photos.
And just think of the weight they’d put on!
Great shots. I’ve never seen turkeys in the wild before and your images have excellent detail. I wouldn’t use the “u” word – I find them quite appealing and interesting looking.
Actually, I do too, Victoria. It does take a special eye, though, to appreciate their, umm, peculiar beauty. Nice to know you have one, too!
Love the title… your Turkeys are much more colorful than the ones here in Jersey.
I hope to get some good shots of the more mature ones. They are really spectacular. BTW, delighted to hear that you’ve weathered the storm so well!
Good pictures, Gary! Are these truly wild birds or former captive birds that are now breeding ferally? Adrian
They are, indeed, truly wild, but these have adapted to human proximity. I don’t think anyone raises wild turkeys; there are plenty of commercially-raised ones available.
I wondered that too, when Gary joked about the turkeys’ not knowing that Thanksgiving was about to happen. Does anybody hunt and eat wild turkeys?
Yes, there are, I believe, two hunting seasons–in the spring for sure, and I think in the fall as well, and there are strict regulations. If you’re interested further, here’s a link to the spring regulations here in Nebraska: http://outdoornebraska.ne.gov/hunting/guides/biggame/turkey/pdf/turkey_regs.pdf. (No one bothers the turkeys that live in residential areas here, of course!)
Amazing looking birds..they look almost prehistoric don’t they..and I feel sorry for their chilly little bald heads! :)
I’m quite sure that they’re able to tuck them deep under their ample wings when it gets really cold out. And I agree about the prehistoric appearance.