Page 6 - Talk of Tequesta - December '22

Page 6, The Talk Of Tequesta

norThern noTes

Let’s Talk Turkey

By Katie Roundtree, Director of Finance and Administration, Northern Palm Beach County Improvement District

With the holiday season than people. During the early 1900s, there was a considerable roost to escape predators, including coyotes, raccoons, owls,
in full swing, our thoughts decline in the turkey population throughout Florida. By 1975, snakes, bobcats, eagles, foxes and hawks.
turn to entertaining and, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Turkeys are large animals (males can stand 3½ feet tall)
inevitably, turkey, a staple (FWC) managed wild turkeys. Now, turkeys can be found with powerful wings and sharp spurs on their legs. If wild
at many family dinner in all of Florida’s counties and in every state in the United turkeys visit your yard, it is essential to allow them to stay
tables. These tasty birds are States except Alaska and Hawaii. wild by not feeding them. Wild turkeys need to move about
also native to our area and Florida is home to two subspecies of wild turkey – the large tracts of land looking for food and providing them with
quite common if you are eastern wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) and the food encourages them to stay in one place. Additionally,
lucky enough to spot them. Osceola or Florida wild turkey (M.g. osceola). The Florida feeding any wild animal can cause it to lose its natural fear
However, south Florida wild turkey is best distinguished from the eastern subspecies, of people and lead to them becoming pushy or aggressive
turkeys aren’t like the plastic- which it closely resembles, by the white barring on its wing to get more food. Not only can human-fed turkeys become
wrapped birds we find in our feathers. On Florida wild turkeys, the white bars on the aggressive toward the hands that feed them, but they may also
local markets. They are a bit less plump and round, weighing primary wing feathers are narrower than the black bars. They scratch and peck cars, leave droppings in undesired areas,
about 17 pounds. are irregular or broken, giving the wing an overall darker and tear up landscaping.
Wild turkeys are social animals and typically flock appearance than eastern wild turkeys. One last fact about turkeys, the story about Benjamin
together in groups numbering just a few birds to as many An adult male wild turkey is thick-bodied and larger than a Franklin wanting the National Bird to be a turkey is just a
as 20 or more. Wild turkeys roost at night in trees within female. The skin on its featherless head is pinkish-red with red myth. This false story began due to a letter Franklin wrote to
thicker forest stands for safety from ground predators. They caruncles (wattles) on its throat and neck. It has a dark beard his daughter. In the letter, Franklin wrote, “For my own part I
are extremely wary and will run away or fly to a tree to on its breast and dark brown or bronze iridescent feathers. wish the bald eagle had not been chosen as the representative
escape danger. Turkeys have excellent eyesight, including Males, called “gobblers,” have elaborate tail feathers used of our country.” He felt that the “Bald Eagle ... is a bird of bad
the ability to see color. during mating. They also have spurs on their strong feet, moral character. He does not get his living honestly … [he] is
They are powerful fliers, especially for short distances, and beards, and “snoods” that hang over their beaks. too lazy to fish for himself.” (Bald eagles sometimes steal the
can fly up to 55 miles per hour! However, to conserve energy, The female, or “hen,” is slimmer and duller looking than fish from other birds rather than fish for themselves.) Franklin
wild turkeys primarily walk. They spend most of their time the male, with a blue-gray head and neck that lacks the wrote that in comparison to the bald eagle, the turkey is “a
on the ground, where they search for acorns, seeds, fruits, prominent red caruncles of males. Females usually do not much more respectable bird, and withal a true original native
insects, leaves, and small vertebrates. They can easily cover have a beard, but if one is present, it is thinner and smaller of America ... he is besides, though a little vain and silly, a bird
several hundred acres in a day. than the males. of courage.” So, although Benjamin Franklin defended the
Before Europeans came to North America, the wild An adolescent male is called a “jake,” and an adolescent honor of the turkey against the bald eagle, he did not propose
turkey population female is called a “jenny.” A baby turkey of either gender is it becoming one of America’s most important symbols.
was abundant. They called a “poult.” Wild turkey hens in Florida typically begin NPDES tip: Please pick up after your pet. When pet
declined in number nesting in late March or early April. The female builds a waste is washed into lakes or canals the waste decays, using
from hunting and shallow nest on the ground where she lays an average of 9 up oxygen and sometimes releasing ammonia. Low oxygen
habitat takeover to 11 eggs. It takes approximately 12 to 13 days to lay the levels and ammonia combined with warm temperatures can
by humans after entire clutch of eggs and another 25 to 26 days of continuous kill fish. Pet waste also contains nutrients that encourage weed
Europeans arrived, incubation for them to hatch. Newly hatched wild turkeys, and algae growth. Overly fertile water becomes cloudy and
but in 1860 there called poults, are highly mobile and can feed themselves soon green – unattractive for boating and fishing. Perhaps most
were still more after hatching. Poults are flightless until they are about two importantly, pet waste carries diseases which make water
turkeys in Florida weeks old. After two weeks, the chicks can fly up to trees to unsafe.

Fundraiser from page 1

The announcement was made at the event’s first
ambassador meeting held last week at the Hanley
Foundation’s West Palm Beach headquarters. More than 100
ambassadors attended the kickoff, including State Attorney
for Palm Beach County Dave Aronberg; event emcees Mo
and Sally from KOOL 105.5 and WPTV’s T.A. Walker;
Hanley Foundation Board President Chip James; CEO Jan
Cairnes; along with board members Marguerite Connelly
and John Makris. Also in attendance were event cochairs
Rob Thompson of Waterfront Properties and Sherrye
Sammons, and Ben Ripstein of Motor Cars of Palm Beach,
event sponsor. Chip James, Gina Franano, Tico Torres
Michelle Makris was a guest speaker sharing a story
about her son Brice Makris who sadly passed away from a Lindsey White, State Attorney Dave Aronberg, Tico Torres, children. “Preventing substance use disorders by postponing
Fentanyl overdose almost three years ago. Jan Cairnes, Chief Assistant State Attorney Alan Johnson alcohol use among our children is the single most important
“I am thrilled to make this announcement to benefit such a message we can send to families,” she said. “But did you
wonderful organization that helps countless members of our community,” said Torres. “I was shocked to learn the average know that one of the most effective ways to protect children
age of teens to drink alcohol is 14½ years old … that is just
from alcohol abuse is having family meals together? It
Best Bin Caddy# unthinkable. But I’m truly grateful that Hanley Foundation’s doesn’t matter the size of the meal or if it’s fast food, family
prevention team is working to teach kids throughout 35
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Cairnes educated the crowd on the mission of Hanley
To learn more about sponsorship or ambassador
Foundation and the work it does to enlighten the community
opportunities, contact Gina Franano, tournament director,
Christmas
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