Got Turkey!!@#5#5???

[annie oakley]

YESSSSSS! We were out watching the property and the critters when we saw a very large Tom walking the fenceline tryinfg to decide where to fly over. He would strut this way and that way then strut back again, and finally saw a rock. jumped up on it and took flight over the fence barely clearing the wire.
We watched him strut to the deer feeder where the corn is spit out on a timed basis. He began eating. We watched him thru Bino's and hoped more would come by. Turkeys tend to travel in a figure 8 while traveling over pastures and wooded areas. If undisturbed they will come back, We have them roost in our trees every year. Altho I love to eat wild Turkey, we do not bother these. We like the critters winged and not winged. We see flocks of Turkey every day on the highway. Flocks of hens with one or two Toms. After they mate they separate, even the females and they begin to nest up. It's just so kool to see a Large old Tom with his beard touching the ground as he struts. Love Oma

[CAMary]

Cool Oma!!

I took my daughter to the zoo today (went with grandma and her friend who has her granddaughters visiting for the week) but we shoulda stayed home!

Did anyone see the coverage of the mountain lion @ the elementary school? There was a news helicopter, and I saw it was being covered nationally on Fox News. Well, it was here in town - about 1/4 mile from Elyse's preschool! I guess they spent the morning in "lockdown".

Big excitement in quiet suburbia!

The monkeys were hilarious, and we saw some fruit bats fighting (even though they are supopsed to sleep during the day!)

Ahhh - animals!

Mary

[tex]

Mary,

I haven't seen any tv today, but that does sound like a lot of excitement for the neighborhood. Mountain lions have learned to take advantage of the protected status they have in California, and many of them have lost their fear of humans. That makes them more dangerous than "wild" ones.

If the state doesn't want to allow lion hunting, to restore the big cats' fear of humans, the least they could do is to "whup up" on 'em, once in a while. IOW, slap 'em around a little, occasionally, so as to remind them not to mess with humans. Hahahahahaha. Seriously, I hope no one was hurt.


Oma,

I love to watch turkeys perform. and listen to them "talking", this time of the year, when they're most active. I've spent a lot of hours shooting video of their display rituals, over the years, and I guess I'll be out trying it again this weekend, if it's not raining the whole time.

I didn't realize that they follow a figure 8 pattern, (I learn something every day, here), but I have noticed that I will see the same birds going out in the morning , and then returning late in the day. As you say, if not disturbed, they are definitely creatures of habit.

Love,
Tex

[Carol Arnett]

Hi Oma, since you have so much wildlife there, why dont you photograph some and share with us. I`m sure you would be good at it snce you love "critters" so much. We live in the city and the most we ever see is a skunk, raccoon or an opposum occasionally. One more, groundhogs are so plentiful you see them around the freeways sometimes. Harry grew up on a farm and considers them varments. I love pictures of deer and I have never seen a wild turkey. Love, Carol

[starfire]

Oma, that is wonderful. I really miss the wildlife we have around our place in Pa. The wild turkey like to eat the birdseed that falls on the ground under our feeders and we throw out corn for them at different times of the year also. One winter was really bad and we had big flocks flying in from the big hill behind our house and landing in the yard for the corn. We often hear the gobblers in the woods.

I think I'm homesick.

Love, Shirley

[annie oakley]

I will try to get some pics for you all to see. Usually when I see them I don't have my camera. Guess I'll need to carry a camera. Love Oma