MYGDFTD: Turkey Crossing Guard

[jesse_the_k]

I love the geography here: four lakes, several rivers and creeks, many green spaces — municipal parks, a dozen golf courses, the UW’s Arboretum — providing habitat for beavers, cranes, coyotes, foxes, muskrats, in addition to the typical suburban deer, squirrels, chipmunks, raccoons, geese and ducks.

In the last decade the wild turkey population has exploded (no hunting allowed in the city). I turned a corner yesterday on my way home from the pool and encountered these five wild turkeys moseying around on a suburban sidewalk.

Neither my presence nor my chair’s motor spooked them. I scooted out into the street which seemed to signal "time to cross!" There wasn’t much traffic, but I kept pace as they crossed holding my hand up high to alert drivers.

An hour later they were walnut snacking on my neighbor’s lawn.

MYGDFTD = my good deed for the day.

What was yours?

Comments

[boxofdelights]

Hee! I love the image of you escorting wild turkeys across the street.

We read A Sand County Almanac in book group last month. There were moments when I was thinking, "Yes, Aldo, it is called biodiversity!" but it is still very worth reading. I'm still mulling over the bit where he's talking about how passing laws to require conservation practices can backfire, and offering financial incentives for conservation can backfire, and what we need is a belief that we do these things because these are the things that good people, good neighbors, good farmers, good citizens do.

Now I'm reading Nature's Best Hope, by Doug Tallamy, about creating green spaces like you describe, in our cities and in our yards, to allow wildlife to share the planet with us.

[sasha_feather]

Lovely photo! What a cool encounter.

[pauraque]

Turkeys! We saw a big flock of them in a field the other week.

[tarasacon]

It’s the turkey parade! I’m trying to imagine what flags you should have, as the grand marshal. :)

When I lived in Concord, CA we were near an open space and ultimately had a ginormous flock of turkeys that frequented the yard. (Since we fed all the birds. They love cracked corn.) They’re messy birds. I’m willing to bet that your city is going to be fighting for ways to reduce the numbers soon.

[duskpeterson]

I love your casual remark, "typical suburban deer." As though all of us are that lucky. :)

I've never seen wild turkey! I think I assumed they were solely domesticated.

[tarasacon]

My good deed for the day was for myself. I walked to the library to renew my library card for another 3 years. It was a big excursion for me.

[ex_flameandsong751]

-happy noises-

[sonia]

Thanks for the photo and story!

MGDFTD was participating in a conversation that might possibly open the door to some conflict resolution. A good time for teshuvah even though none of the other people are Jewish as far as I know.

Shana Tova! Wishing you a year of sweetness and health (whatever that means to you).

[isis]

Oh, cool! There are wild turkeys here but rare to see.

[forests_of_fire]

that's neat!

[sovay]

I scooted out into the street which seemed to signal "time to cross!" There wasn’t much traffic, but I kept pace as they crossed holding my hand up high to alert drivers.

I think it is wonderful that you have now been a turkey escort.