eBirdseed.com Wild Bird Feeding Blog

A few thoughts...

First, the squirrel ("Don") is seriously "out gunned" - full-grown turkeys can stand nearly 4' tall and have a 5' plus wingspan. Also note the spurs on the back of the legs... Run Don run!

Secondly... Ummm... How to put this? When the photograph above was taken, it was 4 degrees F... Yet the two Toms were... Err... Strutting their stuff for the hens... I for one am impressed.

And finally, the following insight from Benjamin Franklin comes to mind...

For my own part I wish the Bald Eagle had not been chosen the Representative of our Country. He is a Bird of bad moral character. He does not get his Living honestly. You may have seen him perched on some dead Tree near the River, where, too lazy to fish for himself, he watches the Labour of the Fishing Hawk; and when that diligent Bird has at length taken a Fish, and is bearing it to his Nest for the Support of his Mate and young Ones, the Bald Eagle pursues him and takes it from him.

With all this Injustice, he is never in good Case but like those among Men who live by Sharping & Robbing he is generally poor and often very lousy. Besides he is a rank Coward: The little King Bird not bigger than a Sparrow attacks him boldly and drives him out of the District. He is therefore by no means a proper Emblem for the brave and honest Cincinnati of America who have driven all the King birds from our Country...

I am on this account not displeased that the Figure is not known as a Bald Eagle, but looks more like a Turkey. For the Truth the Turkey is in Comparison a much more respectable Bird, and withal a true original Native of America... He is besides, though a little vain & silly, a Bird of Courage, and would not hesitate to attack a Grenadier of the British Guards who should presume to invade his Farm Yard with a red Coat on.

While the second observation is inspiring, my guess is that it's the third that really bears attention.

The simple fact is that turkeys are large wild animals. (See my 1/12/09 entry.) Truth be told, twice now I've watched gobblers stand in the road, stop traffic, and then attack the cars. Obviously, the birds don't hold claim to the upper third of the avian IQ bell curve, but they are fearless, and can be quite aggressive. (And no, you can't outrun one - they are capable of 50 MPH over a quarter-mile dash.)

So hat's off to the turkeys... But from a very healthy distance.

See you by the feeders,

CapeCodAlan

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