Tuesday, April 7, 2009

A Bird Stampede in Texas, Turkeys Up North



A high pressure center over the Gulf of Mexico and a cold front moving through the southeast have shifted the migration into Texas and Oklahoma. The south has had abnormally cold temps the last couple of days but the winds behind this high are out of the south and are pushing birds north.

As the pressure center moves eastward the southerly winds will also shift toward the east and there should be a pick-up in migratory movement along the gulf coast. Now if we could only get the warmer weather here in Minnesota. Snow from the last storm on Sunday is finally gone but not before I got some photos of wild Turkeys in trees behind my school.


Kids are still amazed when they see turkeys in trees and flying around. They assume all turkeys are big, white and stupid. When they find out how well adapted these guys are to the forest they gain a little more respect for them but will always prefer their turkey on a platter.


Having this flock around our building they become pretty bold. I was able to get relatively close to them. Turkeys have nested on our property for several years now and it's exciting to see such large critters so close up.


One of the spots where you can see these guys regularly is on the large manure compost heap the zoo has down the hill from us. Apparently the best way to feed the turkeys is to give grain to the zoo animals (if you know what I mean).

1 comment:

MarkN said...

Fascinating donut photos as usual! The turkeys will soon be taking over school, I see.

Question for you, as this hsa come up in regards to the "winter finch invasion" this year. What constitutes a "seed crop failure"? First off, what seed varieties are meant? Then, what is a "failure": being far below an expected maximum, or just a "normal" low of a cycle? Are there publications somewhere explaining the interrelationships between types of seeds and types of birds?

Enquiring minds want to know, Mr. Everhart!