Turkeys (Entry Four)

Today I was doing homework in my room when I saw a group of turkeys roaming around in the yard.  I thought turkeys would be a fun topic for this week’s blog, since I hadn’t written one yet.  However when I went outside, the sound of the door opening and closing sent the turkeys trotting off into my neighbor’s yard.  I decided to sit at the table on our patio and watch the turkeys from afar. 

I didn't get to watch them for long.  The turkeys spent a few minutes extending their long necks down into the grass of my neighbor’s yard – I don’t know if they were eating or doing something else.  I don’t even know what turkeys eat.  Maybe they eat grass.  After they finish pecking into the grass, they wander off into the woods.  I watched until I couldn't see them anymore, until they ambled away into a tangled mess of trees, grass, and leaves. 

Turkeys are funny animals, I’ve learned.  There were only three in the group I saw today, but sometimes groups (called “rafters” I found out via Google) of twenty or so turkeys wander through my yard.  They walk in the most hilarious way.  With each step, the turkey sticks his head several inches farther out than it seems like it needs to go.  Then the turkey’s head kind of bobs back toward its body, and the process repeats.  This is called strutting, at least I think.  We’ve all heard of turkeys strutting, but it’s really interesting to see one actually do it in person. 

Sometimes when I’m driving down my street, these turkeys will be trying to cross (usually in a group – I’ve never actually seen a turkey walking around on its own.  Perhaps they’re social animals).  When I stop to let the turkeys cross, they look at my car for a second or two, take two or three normal-paced steps, and then break into a strange sort of trot-run combination.  When they get to the other side of the street, they resume their normal pace.  I like to think the turkeys are being considerate by hurrying across the street, but they might just be trying to avoid getting crushed by my antiquated but reliable Hyundai.  They always remind me of the pedestrians you see running across crosswalks in parking lots and giving a little thank you wave.  I’ve read that turkeys are loyal and dignified animals, and I don’t doubt it.  They’re certainly seem to be the friendliest wild birds I’ve ever encountered.