Turkeys

One day I as I was leaving for class I walked out side to a flock of turkeys walking across my front yard. The proceeded to walk across the street to the neighbors front yard to continue their foraging for food. At first I thought that the birds got out of their normal home so called the animal shelter. Later I discovered that it is common for Turkeys to roam free in Citrus Heights.

I googled the topic and discovered several blogs with postings about the Turkeys and even some Planning Commission minutes with the attendees complaining about the birds being a nuisance. They have multiplied in the last decade; from a few thousand to over 240 thousand.

On the way to taking Skyler to school last week, there they were, about fifty of them foraging for food on Auburn Blvd. I just had to stop and capture the moment. They are so comfortable despite the rush of life that roars by.

In one article there were pictures of two Turkeys trying to get into Petco!


Also found something on YouTube.
Another local person posted a clip about the Turkeys. While showing houses to a client she came across a flock of Turkeys.




It is obviously Spring time and they are on the prowl looking for places to lay their eggs.
In fact I saw three female turkeys on the side of 80/99 south freeway near the river. It was a great place to lay eggs. A couple of years ago there was a large crop of acorns that caused the Turkey population to increase dramatically.

I keep wondering if these birds will begin to thin out as our economy worsens. Will the homeless people consider them as free food for the taking?

Another blog posting on the Wild Turkeys and an article about the increase of the Turkey population. Apparently, they have become aggressive in the Davis area and are harassing visitors that come to the cemetery.