24th November 2011

Happy Thanksgiving

While enjoying this special occasion do spare a thought for the beautiful and intelligent turkeys. In fact did you know that Benjamin Franklin wanted to make the wild turkey the national bird of the United States instead of the bald eagle?

Domestic turkeys such as the ones in this picture are raised for eating and can weigh up to twice the amount of a wild turkey. Wild turkeys have full colour vision and great hearing. They can run up to 20 miles per hour and fly up to 55 miles per hour. Unfortunately most domestic turkeys are too heavy to fly, but they love having their feathers stroked. A special bird indeed!

Barbara O'Brien, Wildlife