Wild Birds - Gobble, Gobble!

The landscape at Bethel Highlands is home to many species of birds, including a flock of wild turkeys. The preschool children know all about the turkeys! Quail have also been spotted in the adjoining neighborhood. The flock of turkeys was photographed near the retention ponds this summer (see below).

Recently, the Boy Scout publication Boy's Life (November 2012) published some interesting "Fast Facts" on turkeys which I think you will be interested in! For instance:

• a turkey's gobble can be heard from one mile away.
• female turkeys lay between four and 17 eggs at a time.
• Native Americans domesticated turkeys 1,500 years before Christopher Columbus came to America.
• the wild turkey's diet is made up of seeds, nuts, insects, fruit and salamanders; and
• turkeys can run as fast as 25 miles per hour!

I have also observed great horned owls, eagles and quail in the area. Sounds like we should start a list of birds sighted at Bethel Highlands!