Wild Turkey
The wild turkey was designated the official state game bird of Massachusetts in 1991. A true native American, the eastern wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) is the largest and most widely distributed of the six recognized subspecies of wild turkey in North America. The male can grow up to four feet tall and weigh well over 20 pounds. Hens may be almost as tall but usually weigh no more than 12-14 pounds. The wild turkey is also an official state symbol of Massachusetts, Alabama, and South Carolina.
Native Americans enjoyed an abundance of turkeys for thousands of years before settlers arrived in the New World, although Indians generally avoided eating turkey (regarding it as "starvation food" - believing that turkey was fit to hunt only by children, women, and Europeans). The Indians valued turkeys more for their feathers and as spiritual symbols.
1 comment:
Hi Patsy, It is so hot here! I mowed my yard yesterday and thought I was going to have a heat stroke. We are having much hotter weather than usual for this time of the year. I used to check wild turkeys when I had my store. They were everywhere around there. Funny creatures. Tickle me to death when they all start gobbling at the same time. Two guineas showed up at my girls farm. They are absolutely fascinated with them.lol. They said they flew up in a tree to roost the other night and one fell out. They thought that was hysterical. Flew right back up though. They named them Bonnie and Clyde. lol. Have a great weekend. Hope all is good with you.
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