The Wild

One of my favorite blogs is Chickens In The Road.  Suzanne has a lone Goose and recently purchased a group of baby ducks.  With all this rain the ducks were outside loving it when the goose realized they were "related".  Now he was no longer alone and took to parenting in a big way.

This reminded me of the first time I saw the wild turkeys that live in the neighboring woods.  I had just rounded a curve in the road when ahead of me I saw the "family".  Mama in front, papa in back, and all the babies in between.  Mama had almost crossed the road when the family saw me.  Naturally I had come to a complete stop when I saw them.

Mama and papa realized I wasn't moving and remained calm.  The babies, on the other hand, freaked out.   Some ran to mama, some to papa, some back and forth, and one so terrified it ran in circles.   How I wish I had a camera at the time.

I found it amazing to watch the parents.   They both just stood, calm, looking their babies in the eye until they all calmed down.   The parents looked at me as if to say "all is well, we'll be out of your way in a second".

Communicating with the wild, untamed animals touches one's soul.  It was not the first time for me, just the first with turkeys.

The hard part in all this?  You have to get up EARLY, and I do mean "early", to see the wild ones!