For much of this winter we were visited daily by a quintet of tom turkeys. Their glossy iridescent feathers stand out plainly against a monochromatic, snowy landscape.These turkeys are part of a larger group, well over a hundred birds that inhabit Finley Point throughout the year. Combinations of toms and hens that visit the farm ebb and flow depending on season, availability of forage, and whether they are breeding.
Initially the birds came here to glean from the sheep dropped grain or the random insect. They continued to return as they discovered the bird feeders, and then the cracked corn I bought for them.
Turkeys are definitely not dumb birds. It took less than a week for them to learn that I was not a threat, and was, in fact, the source of their grainy snacks. I talk to them whenever I see them, and call, “Here, turk, turk, turk, turk,” when I put out their feed. In less than two weeks, they would run from wherever they were on the property to be fed. And soon after that, they were checking the windows on the house to see if I was coming out to feed them. When I would come to the door, they would gobble in unison, a hearty greeting, indeed!
They arrive from the woods to our west each morning about an hour after dawn, and leave each evening as the sun sets. On very weathery days they wouldn’t come, and I imagined them hunkered down in their tree roosts, feathers puffed up against the cold and snow. On very cold days they would stand in the wan sun, and shift between one foot and the other every five minutes or so, I assume to keep their toes warm.
Two of “our” toms are obviously fully adult males. Their beards are nearly down to the ground and as thick as a pony tails. They engage in a great deal of display, strutting and cooing, thrumming and gobbling, intended to intimidate and as practice for gathering their future harems. I think of them as our senior birds. The other three are more like sophomores. Their beards are not as impressive in length or girth and you can see that they haven’t quite reached their full weights. They are definitely deferential to the senior birds.
All five of them stopped coming last week, just a few days shy of spring. I imagine they have been cavorting with the ladies in anticipation of warmer weather and the joys of procreating. I have missed their antics and greetings.
Two days ago the three sophomore birds returned. They are much shyer without the big toms, hesitant to come too near, and with no shows of tail feathers or any audible greetings. They have followed the same routine of coming and going, spending the entire day within 100 yards of our home.
This afternoon, they were joined by some new friends. Three very young toms, or possibly hirsute females, half the weight of our original three, long-legged, with short little beards, and extremely skittish. Calling them freshmen would be generous, more like junior high. They stayed well-back from me, 50’ at least, and would not go near the sheep.
They are calling for snow overnight, possibly three inches. I am eager to see if our old friends return tomorrow and bring their new friends with them. I am certain they will soon discover that all are welcome here.
