topic Re: Strutting Tom in Community Chat

Strutting Tom

Kachina624 — Sat, 27 Nov 2021 19:53:36 GMT

Wild turkey photo taken this morning at Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico.

Re: Strutting Tom

nana59 — Sat, 27 Nov 2021 19:58:48 GMT

glad he escaped thursday's holiday!

Re: Strutting Tom

Enufstuff — Sat, 27 Nov 2021 20:31:05 GMT

@Kachina624

Your turkey picture is lovely. For the past 5 or 6 years,

we have had turkeys visit our yard. There has been so much

development in the wooded areas surrounding our property, it

has destroyed the habitat of so many animals.(McMansions)

In the 40 years that we have lived here, we never had

coyotes, foxes, deer or turkeys until recently. One of my cats disappeared about 10 years ago and we spotted coyote tracks

in the yard. Since then all cats have been indoor only. It is sad

because we have wrap around porches and many trees that my cats enjoyed climbing. One cat thought that she was a squirrel

and would leap from branch to branch after she saw the squirrels do it. At night she hung out with racoons. One night I called her to come in and a racoon followed her up the stairs and it wanted to come in.

Now, along with the squirrels and birds, we feed the turkeys too. Sometimes in summer, we get mothers with baby

turkeys. They have about 12 babies and as weeks go by, her

family diminishes in size. Some babies have probably been

coyote dinner.

Every day, my Maine Coon, Katie enjoys her bird and

squirrel show, from the window only.

Re: Strutting Tom

hckynutjohn — Sat, 27 Nov 2021 20:57:08 GMT

@Kachina624

A great and colorful picture. We have always had lots of wild turkeys roaming our property. My wife has several on her phone, and I think she has put some on her FB page.

Often see a couple of the momma turkeys together with usually over a dozen of there babies tagging along. Seems like they get bigger by the day. Always see the big Male birds all fanned out at that time of the year.

hckynut

Re: Strutting Tom

nomar — Sat, 27 Nov 2021 20:41:57 GMT

Isn't he a beauty!!! And he knows it.

Re: Strutting Tom

phoenixbrd — Sat, 27 Nov 2021 21:36:56 GMT

An amazing photo....that wild turkey is just gorgeous, so happy the strutting Tom is on a refuge!

Re: Strutting Tom

Porcelain — Sat, 27 Nov 2021 21:38:17 GMT

Oh my he's so pretty! Handsome Tom!

Re: Strutting Tom

Jk9 — Sat, 27 Nov 2021 22:47:06 GMT

Always enjoy seeing the wild turkeys around here. Love to see the Tom's display. Thanks for posting @Kachina624

Re: Strutting Tom

dancingwoman — Sat, 27 Nov 2021 22:50:09 GMT

@Kachina624 Wow gorgeous!!....DW

Re: Strutting Tom

on the bay — Sun, 28 Nov 2021 01:31:45 GMT

He's so beautiful!

That's why I can't eat them anymore. Ever since I volunteered in a wildlife bird sanctuary they had a pet turkey by the door named Tom of course and he was such a nice big guy.

Re: Strutting Tom

Leggett28 — Sun, 28 Nov 2021 01:37:44 GMT

He's a handsome guy 🦃

Re: Strutting Tom

KingstonsMom — Sun, 28 Nov 2021 02:07:26 GMT

@Kachina624

What a gorgeous photo, he's so regal and colorful!

Thanks for sharing!

Re: Strutting Tom

Kalli — Sun, 28 Nov 2021 02:25:52 GMT

My friend had a turkey at her farm a few years ago. Whenever I'd go visit, he'd circle me with one wing extended. I got the feeling he was trying to ask me out on a date.

He was Thanksgiving dinner a few months later. Everything has a purpose on a working farm.

Re: Strutting Tom

Kachina624 — Sun, 28 Nov 2021 02:28:45 GMT

@Kalli You're saying his social life didn't end well?

Re: Strutting Tom

Kalli — Sun, 28 Nov 2021 02:45:13 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
@Kalli You're saying his social life didn't end well?

@Kachina624 Yeah.

I will say, tho, that animals who live on her farm are treated very well. Their poultry (geese, chickens, ducks, and the occasional turkey) are free range. Cows are grass fed in 2 large pastures. Goats receive meds and Vit B shots as needed. The dogs and cats are more like pets but they do work. Dogs herd the goats to keep them out of trouble and yes they will herd the chickens off the porch and out of the gardens when directed. And the cats keep rodents away.

Horses have regular vet appts and yearly vaccinations. 'Course, they're totally for recreation. I keep my 2 there as well.

Re: Strutting Tom

GingerPeach — Sun, 28 Nov 2021 18:39:49 GMT

He's a beauty, @Kachina624

We have turkeys in our suburban neighborhood, too.

One of the females with chicks flew right into me this summer trying to keep me away. No pecking, just a bump. It was quite a thump. I was rather proud of her since she behaved like any good mom.

I'd post some pics but don't want to mess up your thread.

Besides, the pics aren't as gorgeous as this one.

Re: Strutting Tom

Witchy Woman — Sun, 28 Nov 2021 19:02:49 GMT

@Kachina624

I adore wild turkeys and hear them calling through the woods near our house in the early morning and dusk. They seem shy, so I only see them now and again.

One year, a large Tom was strutting back and forth near a couple of hens and both ignored him like he wasn't there. They were in our driveway close to the house, but still protected by the woods.

The tail feathers were out full and he was working the runway, but....they just moved on without even looking up. I felt sorry for him, but it was glorious seeing him showing off for the ladies.

Re: Strutting Tom

Kachina624 — Sun, 28 Nov 2021 19:25:00 GMT

@GingerPeach Hey if you've got some good pictures, by all means post them. It's "our" thread, not mine.

Some of you are so lucky to live in places where you see lots of wildlife. We just see coyotes which I'd just as soon have go away.

Re: Strutting Tom

Spurt — Sun, 28 Nov 2021 19:47:16 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
@GingerPeach Hey if you've got some good pictures, by all means post them. It's "our" thread, not mine.

Some of you are so lucky to live in places where you see lots of wildlife. We just see coyotes which I'd just as soon have go away.

@Kachina624

WOW! Gorgeous turkey!!!

Around my neighborhood, a suburban subdivision, we get the usual Texas critters--coyotes, raccoons, possums, field mice, rat snakes, skunks, geckos....and deer. There was a magnificent Buck the other day, I ran to get my phone to take a photo but he had moved on.....I think he was checking to see if the sprinklers were on so he could get a drink.....There's also Egrets, hawks, vultures, bats, cardinals, bluejays and mockingbirds......

Re: Strutting Tom

Kachina624 — Sun, 28 Nov 2021 20:30:11 GMT

@Spurt The whole 35 years I lived in Texas, I never saw a cardinal, not even in the big Yupon Holly grove on our deer lease near Madisonville. I adore cardinals but we don't have them in NM either. Yes, I'm in a suburban neighborhood too. We do have these.