Wild Turkey – 5/13/19

Observer: Paul Lauenstein

Observation Date: 5/13/19

Observation Time: 9:00 a.m.

Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary

Common Name: Wild Turkey

Scientific Name: Meleagris gallopavo

Comments: As wild turkey numbers dwindled through the early twentieth century, people began to look for ways to reintroduce this valuable game bird. Initially they tried releasing farm turkeys into the wild but those birds didn’t survive. In the 1940s, people began catching wild birds and transporting them to other areas. Such transplantations allowed Wild Turkeys to spread to all of the lower 48 states (plus Hawaii) and parts of southern Canada.

More Information: All About Birds

PS – Check out this documentary called “My Life as a Turkey”: https://www.documentarystorm.com/my-life-as-a-turkey/