Have you ever kept a list of the birds that visit your yard and bird feeders? A friend once told me that as a child his family kept a list which they updated each year. Starting on New Year’s Day and noting when the birds arrived, they then knew when to watch for them the following year, adding a layer of fun and anticipation to their family hobby.

Happy New Year from Droll Yankees

            ~  Just feed birds

12-30-09

Wild Turkeys

We’re more familiar with the turkeys that have been placed stuffed and roasted on a festive Thanksgiving Day table. That Domestic Turkey is cousin to the Wild Turkey, which is found throughout the U.S. Just a few decades ago, populations of Wild Turkeys were very low, having been over hunted and their habitat diminished, but after a concerted re-introduction effort, turkeys have become a more familiar sight.

While they’re not what we would think of as bird feeder birds, with great regularity, a flock of them visits our yard, where they forage for errant sunflower seeds under the Jagunda. Some days they’re surprised by a few handfuls of cracked corn in addition to the seed that has fallen from the feeder. However, in some states feeding Wild Turkeys is restricted or prohibited since it is not viewed as the best long term approach to sustaining their numbers.

Their coloration is exquisite, with fine markings in varied shades of brown that allow them to blend in with the fallen leaves and other fall colors. And their behavior is fascinating to observe, with the older hens obviously in charge. Our flock is always made up of hens, and I’ve read that aside from mating, the Toms keep to themselves in a flock with other Toms. But a male in full show, spreading his tail feathers out in a spectacular display of beauty and might, is quite a sight.

As we reflect on our blessings this Thanksgiving Day, let’s remember our wild birds and the way they pull us back to the natural world and away from our everyday worries.

Betsy's first post   - Welcome

Welcome to our new web site where we hope you will be a regular visitor. Our information is a combination of the Droll Yankees products you can find at retailers along with our interest in birds. The two categories meld nicely as we've found over the years that people who feed birds and people who enjoy selling bird feeders are generally very nice people. 

In Rhode Island we've had no birds at the feeders for about a month now and contacts in other New England states have reported a similar situation. This is a normal occurrence at this time of year, although it seems to be lasting longer this year. A combination of circumstances created it. 1) This is a time when summer birds migrate for warmer climes. We notice it dramatically with the hummers but other birds leave too. 2) We're accustomed to seeing lots of birds in the spring and summer as they forage for food during their busy nesting cycles, but once the young have fledged, their needs aren't as urgent and they tend to keep out of open areas and the view of predators for a while. 3) This is the time of year when natural foods are most plentiful. And remember, our bird feeders provide only supplemental food and are not the main meal.

They'll be back at our feeders soon, but it's important to remember that during the last five decades songbird populations have declined by some 50%. So be good to your birds. Provide habitat, food and water. Eschew pesticides. Just feed birds and make a world of difference.