Wild Turkeys: 06/21/08

The last of the birds books (really this time!) that Sean checked out was Wild Turkeys by Julian May which has a number of interesting facts about wild turkeys: their habitat, life cycle, and how they differ from domestic turkeys. Most interesting to both of us: wild turkeys can fly unlike the domesticated variety.

One oddity Sean and I noticed was the fact that no wild turkeys exist in California. While I haven't been able to find any concrete facts on the native status of the Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) in California, they do certainly exist in the state both in southern and northern California. What all the sites seem to agree on is that the birds were brought to California in 1877 but whether it was to repopulate or create a new source of hunting stock is unclear.

In the Bay Area, there are wild turkey populations in Marin, Berkeley and down here in the Hayward hills (Fairview, Hayward and Castro Valley). In fact, they are one of the road hazards I have to look out for when picking up my kids from school (the other one being our local deer population).

Here is the list of bird books Sean and I have read and I have reviewed:

• Ostriches by Merebeth Switzer
• Peacocks by Ruth Berman
• State Birds by Alan and Arthur Singer
• Tundra Swans by Bianca Lavies
• Wild Turkeys by Julian May

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