Turkey flights

[Steve Malson]

When I lived in PA and hiked the mountain ground, it was not unusual  
for turkeys to take flight.  They preferred to run and when they did  
fly they seldom did more than fly skyward on a downhill angle.  As  
soon as they reached treetop height (which was really not all that  
high from the original starting point) they would set their wings and  
soar downhill or across a small valley until they knew they were away  
from danger.  Their flight was reluctant and once they stopped  
flapping they were pretty wobbly unless they caught a good thermal to  
carry them away.
Steve

On Feb 10, 2008, at 3:43 PM, Dmcwhir513 at aol.com wrote:

> Chatskis -
>
> Snowy Owl is very high on the list of birds wanting to be seen by  
> our visiter from Israel, so yesterday, acting on good info from Joe  
> Soehnel and Jerry Hall, we semi-slid up to Tuscola and Huron  
> counties for a look-see.
>
> We concentrated our owling efforts on the 8 square miles around  
> Akron/Broadway in Tuscola Co and Sebewaing/Bayport in Huron with no  
> owls being seen.  Also worked the coast roads from Quanicasse to  
> Fish Point.
>
> Did have harrier and a small group of redpolls in Tuscola, 6-8  
> small groups of Snow Bunting next to and on the road in both  
> counties (great views), and a longspur in Huron Co.  Was surprised  
> not to pick up a shrike in the scrub along the bay.
>
> Alan did have two lifers - the longspur and Wild Turkey.  We caught  
> the turkey out in the open and it broke into a fast walk, then  
> panicked and burst into flight - a long way from any cover.
>
> It flew up at a fairly steep angle for a ways before more or less  
> tiring (?) and stalling.  At that point, it wing-wobbled and  
> careened toward the ground, crash-landing in an undignified heap.   
> If we had been closer, I'm sure we would have heard the "thump".   
> After a second, it brushed off it's dignity and turkey-trotted the  
> remaining distance to cover.  It was definitely the longest flight  
> I've ever seen ventured by a turkey.
>
> Hi-jinks by the Bay.       May your days be merry and bright.   - Doug
>
>
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