Turkeys are not native to Douglas County. They were introduced in the 1970’s by
the Oregon Dept of Fish and Wildlife.
If flocks get too big and do damage, call the ODFW and they will come and
remove them (all or part of the herd) from your property. They move them to
another part of the state.
Francis
On Mar 8, 2017, at 9:59 PM, Tori Morgan <toripony@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Living with them, watching them do all their secret stuff, has been enjoyable
and also reveals a lot of the things that all birds do but are usually on
such a small scale that we don't get to see it. It's also challenging...
I've given up on having any flowers. I didn't invite them here, they came
with the property. Hens and toms would show up here every spring, mate, and
then nest in the nearby woods. I guess turkeys have leks?
There's a family living here full time now, roosting in some nice "ladder
firs" at the edge of my yard, using the driveway as their "runway" every
morning and evening.
Tori Morgan
Cottage Grove
On 3/8/2017 9:30 PM, Matthew G Hunter wrote:
Hahaaaaaah! Tori has gobbled up the mystery and is probably now strutting
across her house with a victory dance.... :-)
Yes, five large adult Wild Turkeys flew over me and my house and trees, at
about 60-80 ft above ground, all going directly east, mostly not flapping
(in a fast glide). It was a bizarre thing. I have seen turkeys fly a few
times, but usually from a more horizontal view, either going to or from
roost, or across a small valley, or flying away from me. Five gliding like
robust black jets overhead? Never. Unexpected.
After the 5 in formation landed well east of the road, they gobbled a couple
times. Then I could hear others to the NW of me calling loudly. I went to
look and there were 13 more birds, sounding forlorn and lost, slowly
wandering toward the sound of the brave five. They ended up walking down my
neighbor's driveway as they clucked and chucked and whined away (me
recording their calls from the door of my barn). There were about 3 toms and
the rest hens. They never flew; they just walked down the driveway, across
the road, and I presume met up with the ones that had flown over.
Always something new....
Matt
On Wed, Mar 8, 2017 at 7:31 PM, Mikeal Jones <mikealjones@xxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:mikealjones@xxxxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
I like the gliding Wild Turkeys, they fit Matt´s description.... Mikeal
Mikeal Jones
826 SE Brockway Ave
Roseburg OR 97470
(541) 673-1859 <tel:%28541%29%20673-1859>
mikealjones@xxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:mikealjones@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent from our iPad 2
On Mar 8, 2017, at 6:31 PM, Tori Morgan <toripony@xxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:toripony@xxxxxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
I just now watched my flock fly here fly up to roost as they do every
night, and it dawned on me... longish necks, sleek head, rounded wings and
a tail... gliding... Turkeys?
Tori Morgan
Cottage Grove
On 3/8/2017 4:33 PM, Stacy Burleigh wrote:
Well...if it took you Matt 3-4 seconds to realize what they were, they are
not something you see very often. So Mikeal's guess of Sandhill Cranes
fits from that perspective. The only thing that was throwing me if it was
a Sandhill Crane was the description of it being dark but you said it was
early.
Stacy
Melrose
On Wed, Mar 8, 2017 at 1:19 PM, Mikeal Jones <mikealjones@xxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:mikealjones@xxxxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
Matt,
Sandhill Cranes fly in formation with necks extended....? Mikeal
Mikeal Jones
826 SE Brockway Ave
Roseburg OR 97470
(541) 673-1859 <tel:%28541%29%20673-1859>
mikealjones@xxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:mikealjones@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent from our iPad 2
On Mar 8, 2017, at 10:20 AM, Matthew G Hunter <matthewghunter@xxxxxxxxx
<mailto:matthewghunter@xxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
Hi Folks,
Yesterday it was interesting to watch a Turkey Vulture coming in to
locate some carrion out toward our back woods. As it got below tree
level the nearby nesting Red-shouldered Hawks were not happy, and one of
them, with a loud audible hiss, dove multiple times at the dodging and
now wildly flapping vulture. The vulture found a nearby tree in which to
take refuge and rest. Not long later -- I presume after taking some time
to assess the comings and goings of the hawks -- the vulture safely made
its way down to the carrion and feasted for 15-20 minutes before
sneaking off for some digestion.
Early in the morning I was coming home from dropping off my boys with
their ride. As I drove in the driveway in front of the house I was taken
aback by 5 large birds flying ... mostly gliding ... very rapidly, over
the top of the house and nearby trees and me; going west to east and
across the county road. I'm pretty used to identifying birds in flight
overhead, but in the immediate seconds after first noticing the birds, I
was stumped. And these were big birds! How many options can there be?!
My first impression was Canada Geese. They were that large, dark, with
somewhat long necks and big wings, but the wings were broader, not as
pointed, and the tail seemed longer. Finally, the head was smaller, not
bulbous as on a goose. Probably at about second 3 or 4 it dawned on me
what they were....
Any guesses??? :-)
Lots of birds singing this morning....
Matt Hunter
Melrose
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