Wild Turkeys Tempt Fate
Wild turkeys in Oakland
Two days before Thanksgiving, my wife let out a cry of surprise and asked me to come quickly to the window of our Oakland home. It was about 7 AM, and, there, in our backyard, were three wild turkeys placidly munching on our marigolds and kicking up the garden for insects. They appeared to be females because they were smallish (for turkeys), had dull, not iridescent, feathers and none had a wattle.
They stayed awhile, but not long enough for us to get a good photo. Some time later, as I was outside our garage, they were languidly visiting our neighbor’s property and I was able to get a decent picture.
Casually ambling about right before Thanksgiving is a risky practice for a turkey. I hope they didn’t end up on someone’s plate.
For more info on wild turkeys, see “Feeding Wild Turkeys Will Bring Problems Homes to Roost” from the California Department of Fish and Game, and “Wild Neighbors: The Wild Turkey: Threat or Menace?” by Joe Eaton, an article from the Berkeley Daily Planet.