When I was in the fourth grade, my class went to The North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro. I carried a Vivitar point-and-shoot loaded with an entire roll of film. This was a big deal. I couldn’t wait to take photos to share with my parents.
I don’t remember much about the rest of the zoo. What did stand out for me… the turkeys! Most of that roll of film was taken of those magnificent birds.
I excitedly informed my parents of this stupendous event. “They had turkeys at the zoo! Don’t worry. I took a lot of photos. Isn’t that cool?! I mean, turkeys are extinct, and the zoo had some there!”
My folks didn’t even crack a smile as they pointed out that turkey was the central element of Thanksgiving dinners. Then there were turkey sandwiches. Turkeys were not extinct.
My excitement deflated. But my love of turkeys didn’t.
Fast-forward several decades, and Bob and I had recently moved from Los Angeles to Connecticut (standby for articles about that life-changing travel). One morning, while he was away at a conference, I glanced out the window and saw this…
A turkey! In the driveway! And Bob wasn’t there for me to shout about it and jump up and down. So I did the next best thing—I texted my friend/neighbor/landlord JoAnne.
This news about the turkey in the yard didn’t surprise JoAnne. Turns out, there are gangs (that’s what they’re called—cue the watch chains and fedoras) of wild turkeys in our little corner of New England.
Thus began my love affair with the turkeys of Chester. I pined for them, warbled some gobbling noises in the hopes they’d answer back. Until, one chilly Tuesday morning…
At 5 a.m., from a dead sleep, my ears perked up. I heard them—turkeys in the road. Still in my pajamas, I ran outside, my arms flung open, exclaiming, “Hi! I’m so glad you’re here!” They ignored me and strolled into a neighbor’s yard.
I’d like to say, “Of course, I didn’t follow them into the neighbor’s yard!” Well, that’s a half-truth. During another sighting, I made my way into the yard of a house under construction and watched them in their “natural habitat.”
It’s been three years since I first tried to make friends with the local turkeys. Though Bob pointed out my penchant for eating turkey sandwiches (on sourdough with mayo and lingonberry sauce), he supports my turkey adoration. He researched favorite snacks for turkeys, which led to our entryway always sporting a 50-pound bag of cracked corn.
This has resulted in a current gang of 16 turkeys that loiter outside my office window.
Which is particularly wonderful when turklets (aka poults) make an appearance.
No, turkeys aren’t extinct. To me, though, they’re the most extraordinary creatures on the planet. And, with that, I wish you, and the turkeys, a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Turkey Day!!! 🦃🦃🦃
Turklets! 😍😍😍