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Mar 28
2011
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Most of the time when we think of turkeys, visions of golden brown gobblers on the Thanksgiving table come to mind. It wasn't until a few years ago when I came across a female turkey and several young walking along Patuxent River Road that it occurred to me that turkeys, other than perhaps the farm-raised variety, still existed between Washington, DC and Annapolis. Turns out it's true, native, wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) appear to be making something of a comeback in the region.
Just recently, I received word that wild turkeys had been spotted up near Bacon Ridge Branch, one of the headwaters of the South River. These birds, unlike their domesticated cousins, are quite bright and are accomplished fliers, staying beneath the forest canopy and perching in branches to avoid predators.
Recall, this is the bird that held such a revered place in American history that Ben Franklin had originally suggested it as the national bird. If you happen to be hiking through the woods in the area, or driving along Chesterfield Road, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for these waddling wildfowl.
