I believe this is the only banded Wild Turkey I’ve ever photographed. I can read some of the band numbers and make a pretty good guess at the others.
1/2500, f/7.1, ISO 400, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM @ 400mm, not baited, set up or called in
On a cold morning in the mountains ten days ago he was the only Tom in a small flock of turkeys. We’d had snow two days before but much of it had already melted. I’d seen two much larger flocks of turkeys earlier that morning but they had been in the shade so I was pleased to get nice colors on this fellow in good light.
While photographing these turkeys I switched lenses several times because I was usually just a little too close for my 500mm.
1/2500, f/9, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
Despite his less than erect pose I quite like this shot of the same Tom because for just a moment I caught him at the perfect angle to get the best color on much (though not all) of his plumage. When the light angle is just right those colors really pop.
I also like the shot because my low shooting angle provides a more intimate feel, as if I had been right next to him at eye level. That’s an angle I seldom get with turkeys.
I didn’t look carefully at any of my turkey shots taken with either camera until late yesterday afternoon so I hadn’t noticed the band on his left leg until then. In most of my shots this part of the band is the only part I could see and I could never read any numbers on it.
1/2000, f/7.1, ISO 400, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM @ 400mm, not baited, set up or called in
But I kept looking at my other photos of him and eventually found this one where I had better luck.
An absolutely huge crop of the previous photo (2.5% of the original image) allowed me to read some of the numbers and make a pretty good guess at most or all of the others. In an effort to make them easier to read I played with exposure, sharpening and contrast during processing and that helped to make them more readable.
So I’ll be reporting this bird to the USGS Bird Banding Lab and I’ll include this photo and one other to see if their technicians can accurately decipher the entire band number or enough of it to point them in the right direction. I know from past experience that folks with proper skills and access to records from the original bird bander can often work miracles in these situations.
They always report back so I’ll let you know if they’re successful. I’m always fascinated to learn who banded a bird, where and when it was banded, and the age of the bird at the time of banding.
Curious minds want to know…
Ron
The spurs on his legs look dangerous and can be used to defend himself against other males. They will grow as long as two inches.
It sure would be nice to have the Bird Banding Lab’s sleuthing results, Ron. You have good experience with them. Perhaps if you remind them of that and pose your question and request for assistance the old fashioned way, by email to a contact at https://www.fws.gov/birds/about-us.php they would gladly help? I’d bet on you š
Very cool to get the band numbers. I predict, lol, he’s from New Mexico. I think I’ve seen him before. (yes, at least I laugh at myself. )
They have brilliant colours, so glad you managed to capture them in good light. I am also curious what report may come back from the banders.
Ron, what a beautiful bird you have captured in photo. I never knew that Wild Turkeys were colorful, or maybe it is just Tom’s that are colorful. Your comments about the banding are very interesting. To trace a Wild Turkey back to its banding is very exciting. Will love when you have more information. Thank you for the great post.
It’s looking like I may not be able to see enough of the band numbers to report it, Alice. They’re using a new form that apparently won’t allow us to report it unless we have all the numbers. Bummer…
Sorry to hear that, Ron. Thanks for getting back to me.
I agree, when the sun hits the feathers, it does pop. Beautiful bird. I would be interested on hearing about the bird. Where it came from etc.
Jean, I hope to report back but there may not be enough legible numbers here to even report it given the way their reporting form is set up.
You can report just to their email and give them all you know or look for a website of the people who band turkeys.
Your photos really highlight so many features This looks like a bird put together by committee. A claw here, a spike there, feathers going every which way or no feathers at all. Definitely should have been the mascot at the constitutional convention.
“should have been the mascot at the constitutional convention”
Ha, you’re right!
Ron, I do like all of your photos, but today I’m enamored of the huge crop photo: look at those claws and the textures of the skin! Who among us ever gets to see that? Thanks again.
Good point, Nina. I tend to enjoy photos like that for the detail too.
What a beauty! The outrageous diversity of birds, critters and nature in general just gobsmacks me with every sight, smell or taste. And that iridescence! Oh MY! How do they DO that? Yeah, I know the science, but still. š WOW!
I’m a big fan of banding birds for all the reasons you mentioned, plus the gained knowledge. And without knowledge, how would we know that populations have crashed so precipitously in recent years? It remains to be seen what we’ll choose to do with that knowledge. There are still far too many humans who believe the world is flat!!
I can’t wait to hear the information gleaned from your photography! An WOW! I really wish I’d have had you as a science/biology teacher back in the day! Mine was an old leach who was probably sexually abusing female students back when nobody listened to victims. If I’d had a teacher like you, my life might have taken a whole different turn!
I appreciate the last part of your comment very much, Laura. It almost makes me wish I was still in the classroom. Almost…
We have very tame flocks around here, and when the low light hits the feathers, I love their irridescence. I’ve posted some photos of glowing turkeys on my FB page in the recent past. . .our turkeys are too tame. One warm day, Jim was taking the compost pail down the hill when a young Tom came at him, snood up, wattles glowing cherry red, head bright blue, feathers full out. Jim swung the compost pail at the bird – no effect. Tom was damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead. Jim kicked out at the bird, and his sandal flew off his foot and hit the Tom in the beard. The turkey stopped in his tracks, his eyes opened wide, and he turned tail and ran back to his flock, screaming. I think he was saying “Humans! Humans throw body parts! Damn!”
Wow, that’s quite a story, Martha. They can be quite tame in or near towns here too but those I see are often very difficult to approach, although there have been exceptions like the ones I photographed with this Tom.
Yes, Iām very curious about the banding of this guy. We have so many turkeys around our city right now. Not everyone is happy about this, but I love seeing them š
Love to see a Tom strut his stuff ā¤ļø
Have a great day āļø
Diana, many folks living in our small mountain towns in Utah often aren’t happy about having turkeys around either.
NICE! Got some color showing and, of course, the band in a bonus. š Will be interesting to find out when/where it was banded. As far as national bird – at least the turkey isn’t a scavenger…….. š Everyone has their “criteria” for what such things should be…… Of course, I LOVE eagles of any sorts!
Judy, I love eagles too, both of our species. Given the scavenging ways of the Bald Eagle it could be argued that the choice of the Bald Eagle as our National Bird is even more appropriate now than it was 3 years ago…
Such a handsome dude. Have never seen one that was banded. Had 11 of them in my yard the other day. So enjoyed watching their antics.
This bird was my first.
Beautiful shots Ron. The second and third shots show the turkey as a strong majestic figure somewhat as Benjamin Franklin saw him and wanted him to be our national emblem. This guy is strong and beautiful, but of course no match for our Bald Eagles. The reporting of banded birds is an interesting process. I took photos a few years back of tagged American White Pelicans here. One was red tagged (Idaho) and the other green (Utah). I knew nothing about reporting tagged birds, but a friend suggested I do so and guided me as to how. It was really neat because not only did I receive acknowledgements from the government agency, but also received thank you e-mails from the persons in Idaho and Utah who had originally tagged the birds. The one from Utah was tagged at Gunnison Island that of course is a place you are very familiar with.
“no match for our Bald Eagles”
Some, in addition to old Ben, would disagree with you, Everett… š
I once had an opportunity to visit Gunnison Island and help with the pelican banding process but I had to decline because of my bad back. Very disappointing…
Very nice photos of the Tom strutting around with his iridescent feathers shinning in the sun. Did you take any photos of the hens? I hope you will share his band info with us when you get it.
Thanks, Melanie. I probably took at least as many shots of the hens as I did of the Tom. Yes, I will share that info if they report back to me. They always report back if they’re confident they could read the band number.