Bachflock Posted September 11, 2007 Report Share Posted September 11, 2007 I went out for a run this morning. Part of this mornings route took me down a paved bike path and I saw several areas of fairly fresh turkey scat - I figured late yesterday or this morning since it rained until after dark last night. I turned off the bike path up a sidewalk back toward my home, crested a hill and spotted a flock of turkey. I ran within 25 feet of them before they even started to shift. I stopped and they settled right back down. I watched the flock for a good 5 minutes and here's what I noticed: The poults were about 2/3 - 3/4 the size of the hens. If you weren't watching you almost couldn't tell the difference. When I first approached the flock about 1/2 of them raised their heads and watched me. Within 30 seconds all but 3 of the 20 birds went back to scratching and feeding. Two of the birds, appeared to be adult hens, watched me the entire time. One stood in the middle of the sidewalk, silent, stareing me down - hardly even turning her head. The other stood about 30 ft from the sidewalk backup into the people's yard - she was nervous. She'd softly kee-kee, then a kee-kee run, turn her head side to side, repeat. She did this 4 or 5 times the entire time I was there. Didn't move her feet or body but she was all but straight up in the air looking at me. There was construction equipment on the road about 1/4 mile up from myself and the flock so it was tough to hear much for vocalization outside of the kee-keeing hen. I heard a few common yelps but the rest was lost to the bobcat and the paver up the road. While they all were scratching most would scratch twice with both feet before looking down. I've read several times turkeys scratch once a look then twice and a look. This was a relatively brief observation but most would scratch twice with one foot, maybe a quick look, then scratch twice with the other foot and a good look. It was neat anyway you cut it. I didn't see any dominance behaviour but had to get going. I wanted to stay and watch longer but I was in the middle of a workout, sweaty, and it was 49 degrees outside. I took three backwards steps, crossed the road and ran past the entire flock. That old sentry hen never moved except she for her head - she was the boss if I had to guess. She never moved toward the flock and was the only one that kee-kee'ed. There ya go! My observations for the day! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bachflock Posted September 12, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 12, 2007 Second day in a row... This morning when I went out I saw what I believe to be the same group but split up. I came across about 15 turkeys 1/2 mile, as the crow flies, on the same bike path I had seen turkey droppings the day before. All were about the same size of the turkeys I saw yesterday but never let me get closer than about 20 yards. Then in almost the same spot I saw the turkeys yesterday I saw a group of about 8 turkeys - two full grown hens and 6 (or so) poults about 1/2 the size of the hens. They were about 20 yards up into a yard feeding. The poults were smaller than any I saw yesterday - I would have noticed them unless they were up behind the boss hen hiding someplace. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest HoppeMan Posted September 12, 2007 Report Share Posted September 12, 2007 Wow, sounds good for the fall season, eh? Might have to pay you a visit this fall Take care, Nathan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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