It’s Turkey Mating Season in Maine

My Camden friend Marsha Smith sent me these pictures, and they bring back fond memories. A large gaggle (sometimes also called a rafter) of turkeys spent the winter in the woods that surrounded my house on two sides. They often roosted in the tall pines, and it was so fun to watch them get themselves up that high–as they are heavy birds. They would go up the hill in back of the house before launching to give themselves the advantage of more height with relation to the tops of the pines. Those flights always reminded me of the big C-135 transport planes taking off from the runway near one of the homes my family occupied on Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska.

Anyway, the turkeys were so fun to watch, especially when the males started to display their feathers in the spring. Note that their heads turn blue as part of this effort.

These birds are quite something aren’t they?

Thanks for this treat, Marsha.

Happy Easter everyone.

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Author: louisaenright

I am passionate about whole, nutrient-dense foods, developing local markets, and strengthening communities.

3 thoughts on “It’s Turkey Mating Season in Maine”

  1. Great pictures of beautiful birds! We had four come through the field a few days ago. I was hoping they’d stay like they did last year. We had two Canadian geese, two turkeys – one male and one female and my chickens watching the two pair with curiosity! That male strutted his stuff and the hen just ignored him the whole time! Jan in MA

  2. Happy Easter Louisa! 

    Where I used to board my horse, it was next to a state park (Florida). Wild turkeys used to roam, often where I rode.  My horse used to love to chase after them.  No turkeys were harmed in our shenanigans ……..

  3. We have 3 desperate males in the gaggle visiting our house. No luck so far from what I’ve seen. They are fun to watch strutting around as they do.

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