WNJ Exclusive: Celebrating our wild turkeys
Wild Turkey in the Dismal Swamp Conservation Area in Edison
Photo courtesy of Dana Patterson
by David Wheeler
Well,
it's that time of the year again - Thanksgiving! And nothing says
Thanksgiving like turkeys. This week aside, wild turkeys are in the
midst of an all-American comeback, with New Jersey playing a crucial
role.
When European settlers first got here, wild turkeys were a key part of Eastern forests. Yet as our forests were cleared for towns and farmland, wild turkeys dwindled in number to the point where sightings were rare in the early 1900's. Restoration programs - and their ensuing natural recoveries as forests grew back - resulted in a thriving population of over 7 million wild turkeys living in every state in the continental U.S.
When European settlers first got here, wild turkeys were a key part of Eastern forests. Yet as our forests were cleared for towns and farmland, wild turkeys dwindled in number to the point where sightings were rare in the early 1900's. Restoration programs - and their ensuing natural recoveries as forests grew back - resulted in a thriving population of over 7 million wild turkeys living in every state in the continental U.S.
In New Jersey, wild
turkeys thrive throughout the state, especially enjoying early
successional woody habitats and oak-pine savannahs. Here in the Dismal
Swamp Conservation of central New Jersey, wild turkeys have become a
common sighting along the wood edges and meadows. Most exciting is
encountering the extended turkey families on our forest trails. Within
seconds, the young turkey chicks seem to disappear into the foliage, and
within a minute, the once-noisy gobblers have become a silent part of
the scenery.
Wild Turkey in New Jersey
Photo credit: Frank DeBlasio
Wild Turkey in New Jersey
Photo credit: Frank DeBlasio
Of course, if Benjamin Franklin
had his way, the wild turkey would not just be the centerpiece of our
Thanksgiving tradition - it would be our national symbol. In comparing
the turkey with the bald eagle, Franklin noted that "For in Truth the
Turkey is in Comparison a much more respectable Bird, and withal a true
original Native of America.... He is besides, though a little vain
& silly, a Bird of Courage, and would not hesitate to attack a
Grenadier of the British Guards who should presume to invade his Farm
Yard with a red Coat on."
Our Triple C Ranch in
Edison has frequent visits from wild turkeys, as well as a domestic
turkey that families always enjoy seeing. And that turkey can relax -
our "Farm Yard" is safe from invading British redcoats!
A good source for information on the wild turkey is the National Wild Turkey Federation at www.NWTF.org. For more information on visiting the Triple C Ranch, click here.
Posted by WILDNEWJERSEY at 11/23/2011 1:15 PM 
Categories: WNJ Exclusives, Birds, Dismal Swamp
Tags: Thanksgiving New Jersey turkeys Dismal Swamp Conservation Area David Wheeler Benjamin Franklin Triple C Ranch
Categories: WNJ Exclusives, Birds, Dismal Swamp
Tags: Thanksgiving New Jersey turkeys Dismal Swamp Conservation Area David Wheeler Benjamin Franklin Triple C Ranch
That second photo is a stunner!
Franklin never wanted the Wild Turkey to be our national bird; that myth arises from a satirical passage in a private letter written his daughter, and every year it has to be debunked again and again.
Reply to this
Love your Thanksgiving turkey story.
What a wealth of information you provide access to for everyone. Great!
Reply to this