Turkey is a republic straddling eastern Europe and western Asia. Its
cultural links to Greek, Persian, Roman, Byzantine and
Ottoman empires mark it as a civilized country. Its multifaceted history is easily found elsewhere, but this post deals with
wild turkeys. Lookie:
Mom and adolescent kid turkey are off on a field trip. All young wild turkeys are home-schooled. She is going to show him something enigmatic. They cannot ride the Trainrideoftheenigmas because they would be forced to board as "livestock". I do not like boarding trains as livestock, why should they?
And where are they going?
Mom instructs, "Jump and flap until you gain the top fence rail."
"Wow Mom, I didn't even know we could do that! Flap-flap-up-up!"
"We turkeys call it kaboingulating. Now..."
"...Kaboingulate down onto that stump below."
"Okeydoke."
"What do you see?"
"Nothing unusual, Mom. What should I be seeing?"
"Turn around. Turn your head around too!"
"My what, Mom?"
"The little thinky thing on top of you."
"Oh! Oh my!"
"What's this?"
"It's a statue of birds, Son, built by humans to show how much they love us."
"They love us?"
"Some of them do, Son, like the pretty lady taking photos of you, but there are many more humans who are very dangerous."
"Like how, Mom?"
"Like in November especially, they're insulting and disrespectful."
"How so?"
"Well, we turkeys have an old saying, 'Beware of Humans! They'll chop your head off and throw it in your face!"
"Yikes, I don't want to end up like that. Run Mom!"
"Lesson learned, Son. You get an 'A' for today."
I'll withhold my best recipe in the world for brining turkey (inc. wild) before baking.
ReplyDeleteCheers, Geo.
Most considerate, Mike, but unnecessary. I'm fond of turkey too. I just really enjoy watching this bird family explore their world. We've had heavy machinery reconfiguring a million-year-old creek out back and all the wildlife it supported has sought refuge on our property.
DeleteGobble,gobble.
ReplyDeleteStrangely, Emma, this turkey doesn't gobble, but instead makes very quiet sounds to her chicks --some of which only Norma can hear. I hear little clicks from them but nothing subtler. I used to visit a turkey farm near Ione and those turkeys gobbled up a storm, but they weren't wild.
DeleteIf young turkeys are like young children, they'll test the boundaries and then some. Gobble! Gobble!
ReplyDeleteI fear they have tested some boundaries and exceeded them, Mildred. There used to be four chicks and now I see only two out there. Sometimes the chicks go off by themselves and, if they're lucky (or far enough along in their educations) they return for visits.
DeleteSo true in many ways, friend Geo, hard to explain … my grand mother went to Siberia for this … and my mother is still crying about this … Anyway … Love, cat.
ReplyDeleteThe Gulag? Stalin? News I remember from my childhood still frightens me. You have a strong family. Love reciprocated, Geo.
DeleteThese are some great pictures.
ReplyDeleteThey make me reconsider my lunch for tomorrow.
Dear Harry, thank you. Relayed your compliment to Norma, who is able to follow wild things without upsetting them like I do. But then, I like to eat turkey.
DeleteHats off to Norma for some great photos. Kudos to Mother turkey for such a learning moment and to you for deciphering the gobble gobble.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tom. I have to tell you I'm amazed at Norma's acceptance by wild things. She takes these pictures with her iPhone. Just walks up to birds, bees, squirrels, anything wild and they detect no harm in her. No special lenses or cameras. Gets within inches of them! I can coax a tree frog to climb into my palm for transport to a better life, but that's my limit. How she does what she does is beyond me.
DeleteTurkeys are smart. We would see lots of them in the fields on the way to my parents home in Cannington but as it got closer to hunting season we saw not a one. They were hiding. They kaboingulated to a safe place. I truly envy Norma her talent for 'wildlife approachment, pictre capturage\. She must have a very gentle soul.
ReplyDeleteThanks Delores. Norma does have a knack for getting close to feral creatures. I was not raised in captivity and yet, here we are.
DeleteWell turkeys are quite safe around me!! I must have seen a documentary at some time about turkeys, because I have the feeling they are quite amazing - and intelligent - creatures. Mind you, a turkey in attack mode [like when it is protecting its mistress/owner] can be a formidable opponent.
ReplyDeleteI try never to alarm them. As you say, adult turkeys are indeed formidable. They are heavy, strong and can be surprisingly fast.
DeleteYou have a wonderful imagination, Geo. It goes well with Norma's excellent photography.
ReplyDeleteNovember is going to be scary, and not just for turkeys.
Kind Jenny, Thank you from Norma and me. I agree, Nov. will be scary but at least our Supreme Court blocked the Tim-Draper-backed bid to trisect our State. I remember 4 years back he got up a petition to fold it 6 ways and stick it where the sun don't shine --which was fortunately voted down. But there are lots of strange referendums all over this country that give me the jumps.
DeleteNorma is a terrific photographer and, Geo, you told a sweet story to go along with it.
ReplyDeleteWe have more turkey vulchers around here than turkeys. They are ominous creatures, especially when they sit on my deck railing and stare in the window at me. I look forward to November with much trepidation, but have hope that this nightmare may soon be over.
Thank you, Arleen. I hope November holds some pleasant surprises to balance out the general trepidation.
DeleteThose turkeys should know better than to stick their necks out on a stump... :)
ReplyDeleteSadly I don't see turkeys down here, but they were often in my yard in Michigan.
I know, dear Sage, I know. The stump was a poor choice for a landing, but turkey chicks must take their lessons from the Media too --like us. Think of Bogart's line in "Casablanca": "I stick my neck out for nobody."
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