Origins of the Holiday Turkey
With the holidays fast approaching, many folks are beginning to plan their requisite feasts with family and friends. The centerpiece for many a merry meal will undoubtedly be a turkey; indeed, Americans will consume nearly 50 million turkeys on Thanksgiving and about half as many on Christmas. Given that the average American consumes over 15 pounds of turkey each year, I thought it would be interesting to briefly explore the natural history of this ubiquitous bird. The domestic turkey that you buy in the grocery store is the same species as the wild turkeys that you might see strutting...
Read MoreMeleagris gallopavo
With the arrival of the holiday season, many folks will enjoy celebratory feasts with family and friends. The centerpiece for many merry meals will undoubtedly be a turkey; indeed, Americans will consume nearly 50 million turkeys on Thanksgiving and about half as many on Christmas. Given that the average American consumes over 15 pounds of turkey each year, I thought it would be interesting to explore the natural history of this ubiquitous bird. The domestic turkey that you buy in the grocery store is the same species as the wild turkeys that you might see strutting through a local field or...
Read MoreTom Turkey
Are you all turkey’d out? It really is spectacular to think about how many Wild Turkeys have retaken their former territory in the Northeast thanks to reintroduction programs and proper management. A bird that was extirpated from Connecticut when I was a child – and I am 30 now – has been flourishing for half of my life across the state, with similar success all throughout its former range. It is a success story so recent but so incredibly effective that we gloss over it more than we should. This victory is but one of many possible if multiple organizations and groups of...
Read MoreHappy Thanksgiving
Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History!
Read MoreTurkey Tapping
Anybody there? This Wild Turkey was photographed several years ago by RTPI President Twan Leenders while it was looking to apply for an office job. At this time of year the turkeys might want to hide instead of coming right on in…
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