Rewards of rural living:

[3RRL]

Duh...
I see....
However, up on the North Fork, about 5 miles from me they have lots of turkeys there? What do you suppose the difference is? Terrain ... more brush cover maybe?

 

[jinman]

However, up on the North Fork, about 5 miles from me they have lots of turkeys there? What do you suppose the difference is? Terrain ... more brush cover maybe?

Rob, that may be it. I think with turkeys it's a combination of food and cover. If you have a feeder or other source of food, that sure helps draw them in. The cover is a nesting consideration. Turkey eggs are very vulnerable to scavengers. As a matter of fact, my neighbor tells a story about a turkey he watched kill a ratsnake in her nest after it had devoured her eggs. I just think the nest and the chicks are often lost to predators.

I have a lot of brush and cover. Also, both my neighbor on his 24 acres and I feed lots of corn. We are also situated around a 15 acre lake. This year, or yard is full of turkey feathers because this large flock is here two are three times per day looking for food. In the late evening, the turkeys are often found near the water getting a drink. Our only predators here are a few coyotes and foxes. I think a big turkey hen might be able to defend her nest against foxes and raccoons. If she leaves the nest, well....

 

[Egon]

A turkey defending her young could probably bat home runs with a small fox!

 

[3RRL]

Rob, that may be it. I think with turkeys it's a combination of food and cover. If you have a feeder or other source of food, that sure helps draw them in. The cover is a nesting consideration. Turkey eggs are very vulnerable to scavengers. As a matter of fact, my neighbor tells a story about a turkey he watched kill a ratsnake in her nest after it had devoured her eggs. I just think the nest and the chicks are often lost to predators.

I have a lot of brush and cover. Also, both my neighbor on his 24 acres and I feed lots of corn. We are also situated around a 15 acre lake. This year, or yard is full of turkey feathers because this large flock is here two are three times per day looking for food. In the late evening, the turkeys are often found near the water getting a drink. Our only predators here are a few coyotes and foxes. I think a big turkey hen might be able to defend her nest against foxes and raccoons. If she leaves the nest, well....

Yup, all animals suffer from preditation except maybe the larger preditors. I need to get a guzzler and instruction like where best to put it. Anyone have any experience with that?

 

[midlf]

I'll bite. What's a "guzzler"?

 

[3RRL]

It is a sort of wild life drinking fountain. I'll need to provide a water source to keep resident birds and game nearby.

 

[terbear1963]

We had these 5 visitors in our front yard tonight.

 

[texbaylea]

I got a good look this morning at the Owl that I have been catching hints of around our place. It is heavily overcast this morning and it was still fairly dark when I came out of the front door to go get the newspaper. The Owl flew out of the sweetgums in front of the house over to an Oak to the west. It swooped low so I could see the back and spread wings. It was quartering away from me so I could not see the head clearly. From the coloration only I am guessing a Texas Barn Owl. The wing spread was about 3-3.5 feet.

I was glad to know I was not imagining its presence.

Vernon

 

[dmccarty]

Owls. I love owls.

I used to own some land in a different part of the county that had a beaver problem. One night I was sitting under a big tree next to the "pond" the beavers had built. I suddenly heard, saw, felt a presence above me. I looked up and there was this big black owl that seemed to have wings 20 feet long landing on a limb right over my head! After my heart repositioned itself from my throat to my chest I thought it was kinda cool. But for a moment, I knew what the rabbit felt during its last seconds of life.

Course both the owl and I where trying to get the beavers....

After we sold the land mentioned above I was burning a pile of wood on the land we now live on. The fire took forever to start and as a result I was going to have to spend the night watching the fire. The wife and daughter came out to bring me clothes, sleeping bag, food and water. I had seen off and on a really big owl on our land. His wings where only 19.5 feet long, though. We sat down and where watching the fire when that dag blamed owl landed in a tree about 20 feet behind us and let out the LOUDEST HOOT that has ever been heard. For some reason it did not scare me but my wife and daughter danged near jumped out of their skins!

I'm pretty sure that owl is still around. Something landed on our rood a year or so ago in the middle of the night. My dog started barking/growling at the ceiling! One night a few months ago something big landed on a drooping Dogwood branch and broke it. Me thinks the big owl is still around.

Later,
Dan

 

[texbaylea]

I also love Owls for 2 reasons.

1. They keep down the rodent population - I have not had any problems with rats or mice to amount to much. I am glad that this one is around and apparently has been for a while.

2. I am a graduate of Rice University whose mascot is the Owl.

Vernon