Echoes of the Wild Turkey

It is hard to believe that it is now officially Spring. It wouldn't seem like it with the oddities of weather that we have had to endure these last few weeks. What would normally be mild days this time of year have been covered in cold rainy and snowy days, with more forecasted in the coming week. That being said, it hasn't kept Mother Nature from displaying the fact that it is in fact Spring, and that things will soon get better.

Tom "strutting" and courting hens (Photo courtesy of Ryan Raybourn)

One of these signals from Mother Nature is unmistakeable, and it is the Spring gobbling of the Wild Turkey ( Meleagris gallopavo). Nothing will send chills up your spine like an early morning hike through a foggy forest and hearing the thunderous gobble of a wild turkey near you. This call of the male Turkey (called a Tom) is unmistakeable and can be heard from quite a long distance away. This call is a breeding call, and is a way to let a female Turkey (a hen) find a Tom to mate with. He will typically roost at night away from the hens, and when the Sun comes up and he awakens, he will
gobble from his roost tree to make the hens aware of his location. Shortly after his wake up gobbles, he will fly down to the ground and will begin his courtship display of "strutting" or dancing around with his tail feathers spread and fluffed out, and gobbling all the while. He will also gobble at any loud noises such as Owls, Woodpeckers, Coyotes and Crows in an effort to let them all know that he is the king of the forest. These displays will continue up into the day, until he is satisfied that he has attracted and bred all of the hens near him that are ready to breed. This behavior will begin in mid- March and will continue until the end of breeding season some time in May.

The gobble of a Wild Turkey is an "alarm" to the fact that it is indeed Spring, despite the fact that the weather may not say so. Turkeys can be seen almost anywhere nowadays, and State Parks offer a great place to view them at all times of the year. If you have access to private land, you can also see and hear them there as well. But use caution, Kentucky and Virginia alike both have a Spring Turkey season for hunters so they may be in the woods after the same quarry as you. Just be mindful of your surroundings, and don't wear red, white or blue (the colors of a Tom's head during breeding season).

This is a beautiful time of year so get out, enjoy the woods, and visit a local State Park. I am sure they will have something to help you enjoy the beginnings of a beautiful new year.

For more information about the Wild Turkey visit this LINK.

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