Date: 3/21/25 9:35 am From: David Whitacre via groups.io <davewhitacre...> Subject: Re: [IBLE] A cautionary tale
Perhaps surprisingly, turkey toms can inflict some pain using their wings
as well! Long ago, I helped investigate a then-nearly-unknown population of
Peregrines breeding in the extremely "cliffy" Sierra Madre Oriental in
northeastern Mexico (headed up by Grainger Hunt, then of the Chihuahuan
Desert Research Institute). We were based in a rented 1-room adobe in a
small town. The neighbors had a big tom turkey that would often display at,
and attack, us as we sat outside. Given the opportunity, he would not only
jump up and lash out with his spurs, but would also slash forward with his
bent wings. When he made contact with his bony "wrists" (all those reduced
finger bones crammed together), it hurt pretty good. Fun times!
On Thu, Mar 20, 2025 at 10:19 PM bike4birds via groups.io <tmccabe9=
<outlook.com...> wrote:
> The other day, I finished my ride without having encountered any Wild
> Turkeys. So, when I heard there was a flock on Harrison Boulevard, I walked
> over. I hung around for a while, but then the Tom started working his way
> over to me. I started backing away, but apparently not fast enough. The
> bird got closer and closer, and let out some classic turkey calls. The rest
> of the flock started moving from the front yard, where they had been
> hanging out for some time, while the Tom kept moving towards me.
> As I backed up, someone behind me spoke, and I started to turn when the
> Tom jumped up and attacked me with his clawed feet. I got my hands up
> quickly enough that he didn't get my face, but he punctured both of my
> hands. I kept backing away, while waving my gloves at him, but he didn't
> give up on his shepherding me until I backed down the alley, going south,
> while the flock was moving north. In hindsight the injuries were minor, but
> the experience was quite scary. I guess I thought he would only strut and
> not attack.
> I've attached a photo I took shortly before he went into attack mode.
> Tom McCabe, Boise
>
>
>
