March 29 Turkeys on Display

I was at the Arboretum again today leading an early migrant bird walk with a few folks who embraced the wind and rain. Many birds were still active, including all of our winter residents like woodpeckers and some new arrivals, including four turkey vultures that tipped back and forth on the wind, maybe sniffing around to smell dead meat. At teal pond we slowly watched as more than a dozen wood ducks debated whether to stay and finally took off in groups, circling around in hopes that we would vacate their quiet waters. Out in the gardens we also noticed a development in the wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) world. Several males were displaying their feathers, or strutting, as its called. Their heads and necks are now bright colors and they stretch out all feathers, with tail sticking up like a fan, to attract females and tell other males that they are bigger and brighter. Tom turkeys are looking to mate with as many hens as they can, and will gobble, drum, boom, and spit upon other males to win the hens over. Little turkey poults will be around in a few months.