Thursday, November 27, 2008

Happy Thanksgiving

Thursday, November 27, 2008
9 comments
Male wild turkey ready to do what male wild turkeys were born to do.

In bright sunlight, an adult turkey's feathers show beautiful iridescence.

I wonder if any of the Pilgrims or First Peoples at the original Thanksgiving took the time to consider what a cool bird the turkey is. Or did they simply add it to their life list before shooting it with the blunderbuss and dropping it in the big black cauldron? Most ponderable, that.

If you're into learning more about the wild turkey, check out the Peterson Field Guide's video podcast about the species here. Click on the yellow Species Profile tab, then the wild turkey icon.

Wishing you and yours a wonderful Thanksgiving Day with lots of reasons to be both happy and thankful. Beware the tryptophan.

—Bill of the Birds

9 comments:

On November 27, 2008 at 10:57 AM Anonymous said...

From what I've read about both the Pilgrims and the Powhatans, I'd imagine that the Powhatans did appreciate the uniqueness of the turkey and the Pilgrims were simply grateful for anything to eat. :) Your turkey pictures are amazing!

On November 27, 2008 at 2:22 PM Frank Baron said...

Terrific pics. I've recently taken an interest in birds but am a fisherman first and foremost. The homely turkey puts me in mind of the catfish. They both taste a heck of a lot better than their looks would indicate.

On November 27, 2008 at 8:01 PM Vickie said...

What a colorful work of art! You get to appreciate a turkey differently in these beautiful close ups.

On November 27, 2008 at 8:35 PM Janet Egan said...

Hmm, don't know what the Pilgrims or the Wampanoags thought, but Ben Franklin thought the wild turkey should be the national bird.

Great turkey pix. And kudos to egretsnest for subtly working in Virginia's claim to the First Thanksgiving.

On November 27, 2008 at 10:05 PM Julie Zickefoose said...

Hey! I grew up in Virginia, being taught that We Virginians celebrated the First Thanksgiving. Aside from that, we were also taught a lot of twaddle in our Virginia History book...Thanks for reminding me of Mrs. Tilletson's sixth grade history lessons, Egretsnest and Janet.

Smoked out the Ben Franklin reference, B. Way to go.

I have to quote Liam here: "I'm thankful for all the wild churkeys who let us shoot them and eat them."

On November 30, 2008 at 10:44 AM Anonymous said...

Amazing turkey photos...Love the angle and close ups.

On August 18, 2010 at 3:56 PM Unknown said...

I love when my husband and i pass time together specially when we are with all the family celebrating the thanksgiving. Is sure this year we´ll be happy all of us together and enjoying. But i am thankful because my husband buy viagra and he has more self-steem.I am really happy.

On April 7, 2011 at 10:48 PM Anonymous said...

bill! my name is sophie laurenzi, i am a student at Central High in Memphis, Tn and to avoid being a bad person, i wanted to ask your permission to use this photo for one of my art peices. My focus is exploring detailed animal texture and this photo has so much of it! if you are not comfortable with giving me permission i completely understand- it would be greatly appreciated if you could emial me your answer at sophielaurenzi@yahoo.com - thank you!

On December 14, 2011 at 8:43 AM viagra samples free said...
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