Are Turkeys Dumb? Or Not!
This past year a
large flock of turkeys has been visiting our back yard. And whenever they do,
they definitely don’t act or even look like the brightest of our feathered
friends. Then again, it’s taken them no time to learn that ready and waiting to
be gobbled up beneath our pole-mounted feeder is a smorgasbord of seeds kicked
down by the smaller (and smarter?) birds. So, how dumb is that?
Anyhow, this last Thanksgiving we had two dinner guests,
son Kevin and Ruthie’s friend Delores. Looking outside she exclaimed, “Ruthie,
you’ve got lots of turkeys out there, you know that?”
My
avid bird watcher nodded happily, “Yes and I like them! With their wings spread
they’re actually pretty!”
An
even more avid hunter, Kevin grinned, “They probably taste good too! Next time
I’ll bring my bow!”
Both
women got busy setting the table. Meantime, I noticed all those big, dopey-looking
things just standing around under the feeder. In fact, looking anything but
dumb, they seemed to be patiently waiting for more seeds to be kicked down. In
any case they were out of luck, the feeder box was empty.
The
instant I stepped outside with the seed bag, the turkeys ran off every which
way. Squawking and nearly knocking each other down, they gave me a hilarious
little show like circus clowns. It came right back, my original opinion-Nope, they’re dumb all right! Pouring in
more seeds, I saw them re-grouping way over
in our neighbor’s yard. Then I noticed a lone female standing much closer
with one eye cocked my way. I wondered-She
can’t be figuring this out. Can she?
I
rejoined everyone at the dinner table. Ruthie had prepared roast turkey of
course and we all dug in. Ready to take a bite, I saw Ruthie staring behind me.
She whispered, “Dear, you won’t believe who’s watching us from our deck rail.
All of you stay still ‘til I get my camera!” Sneaking off, she was back in seconds
and aiming it over my shoulder. Click-click! “OK, everyone, turn real slow.”
We
did and so help us, that female had flown up to the deck rail and was now watching
our every move. Looking down at her plate, Delores laughed and shook her head,
“Good as this is, I’m not about to eat it with her watching me!”
Kevin
said, “Mom, she acts so tame that you guys should name her.”
That
started a go-round; Tania? No, doesn’t sound right. Tessie? Nah, that’s a
little girl’s name. How about Tallulah? Great! Hoisting our glasses, we toasted
her still perched out on the rail and maybe Tallulah liked it too. Giving us
one last look (I’m not making any of this up), she flew off and landed back at
the feeder.
A
couple weeks ago I went out to re-load it and yep, all the turkeys ran away,
except guess who? Well, she also moved off but only a little ways and then watched
me empty the seed bag. Finished, I had no sooner crossed our lower deck to the
door when so help me, Tallulah was already back under the feeder.
As
we watched from inside, Ruthie said, “Dear, next Thanksgiving how about roast
pork instead?” Laughing, she added, “There aren’t any wild pigs around here,
right?”
“Let’s
hope not!” I said. And meant it. Even smarter than Tallulah and far less
lovable, they can be crazy-mean. We sure don’t want our meal interrupted by one
of those critters peeking in and throwing a fit.
