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Adult wild Tom turkey in full strut.
Gallery
Male turkeys looking for hens.
by george13090 (Subscribe)
Posted on: May 2, 2008 at 11:14 AM EST
Channel: Pets & Animals
Location: Jamesville, N.Y.
The american wild turkey have lived around here long before the first native american arrived nearly 10 thousand years ago. Our modern domesticated turkey we enjoy every thanksgiving is a highbred from the wild stock. Wild turkeys only live about 2 to 3 years and the domesticated breed may not make a full year due to its huge size, so huge it cannot fly and could reach 50 lbs. compared to the 25 lb. wild ancestor.
During April and may each female builds a nest on the ground and lays one egg every other day and then covers them with leaves but does not sit on them. She retreats to the safety of the trees at night and repeats this until 10 or 12 eggs are laid. Then she sits on them for 3 weeks and amazingly all of the eggs will hatch on the same day in just a few hours. The hen with her brood immediatly leave to feed on whatever is available such as insects. They have hundreds of food items on their menu but like all birds they must also eat small stones to be used in their gizzards to grind up just about everything they eat.
I find them fun to photograph because its a challange to get close for a quality shot worthy for t.v. or a magazine.
George Adams of Liverpool.
