Wild Turkeys (Dindons sauvages) Thrive
in Suburban Waterloo
15 September 2014
While checking a few of my regular birding spots I came across a flock of at least twenty-one Wild Turkeys Melagris gollopavo a mere stone's throw from a complex of townhouses. The area in which I located them is at the edge of a residential area and appears to be slated for development itself (we are paving over the whole world). Most of these birds were hatch year birds and the reproductive capacity of this species is prolific. It is a hardy species, surviving our harsh winters, and its numbers have exploded in recent years. And this for a bird that thirty or so years ago was not present at all in the province.
It had been extirpated by over-hunting and an exchange was made with the State of Michigan - turkeys for moose. Michigan had the same experience with its native moose as we had with turkeys, it had been hunted out of existence.
The picture below is not great, but it was the only one I could get as the birds exploded out of one area of scrubby bush and headed for another. It is quite incredible how quickly they can move.
A stately Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias at another location nearby was a tad more photogenic.
Beautiful photos of the turkey and heron.
ReplyDeleteSecond photo I like.
I love turkeys. Amazing creatures. Sam wanted to breed but failed.
ReplyDeleteYou gotta love it! May the turkeys prosper and bring smiles to everyone living in that neighborhood:)
ReplyDeleteHow stupid humans can be!!!
ReplyDeleteCant' see the point to massacre animals to extinction....
Here we call theses guys "viandards"..
Great though to see that others have enough brain to reintroduce species.
The heron looks very serious! LOL!
If we had wild turkeys round here, I'm sorry to say that they wouldn't last five minutes. It's difficult to explain without appearing racist but there's a certain faction which will take anything that has a food value, including fish from ornamental ponds in public places - and they're not herons!! It's good to hear that your turkeys are making a comeback.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes to you both.
Beautiful Wild Turkeys and Heron, really great news.
ReplyDeleteNever did see a Turkey when over your way. Good to hear they are doing OK.
ReplyDeletei had a peak at a number of your blog posts
ReplyDeleteyou sure find treasures
i enjoyed seeing your photos
Nice to see them.
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend, greetings Tinie
Marvelous photos of the heron.
ReplyDeleteBest regards, Synnöve
Terrific heron shots!
ReplyDeleteFajne ujęcie:) Zapraszam do mnie:) origamiiptaki.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteTurkeys will never see us in the Netherlands in the wild but only breeding farms. When you do they walk in the wild and that's great. Also you pictures of the heron have become quite fun to watch.
ReplyDeleteGreetings, Helma