![\"wild](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/wild-turkey-7884-ron-dudley.jpg\")
<\/p>\nTwo subspecies of Wild Turkey are found in Utah, Merriam’s Turkey and the Rio Grande Turkey. They’re very similar in appearance and are best distinguished by their distinctive habitat requirements. Merriam’s is a mountain bird while the “Rio” prefers river bottoms in cottonwoods and oak brush. Another difference is that Merriam’s migrates vertically (up and down mountains)\u00a0with the season while the Rio does not migrate.<\/p>\n
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1\/400, f\/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f\/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n This is a Merriam’s Wild Turkey, photographed about six weeks ago in Utah’s Stansbury Mountains. Many turkeys in Utah become acclimated to\u00a0civilization and feed in rural pastures, yards and even towns but this bird and the others that were with it were truly wild. I was lucky to get any shots of\u00a0these extremely wary birds\u00a0at all. Even though this image isn’t perfect I much prefer an image like this in natural and wild\u00a0habitat than in a setting that is obviously “civilized”.<\/p>\n Whenever I see wild turkeys I always notice that weird fleshy (and erectile)\u00a0projection coming off the top of their bills. The next time you want to play a friendly game of “gotcha” with a knowledgeable birder ask them if they know what it is. It’s called a “snood”…<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I seldom make holiday-themed posts but this Thanksgiving is an exception. Family has always meant a lot to me but with my daughter Shannon so close to death recently from a fall and resulting brain injury I find myself thinking of family almost constantly, especially her. Shannon remains in the hospital in Florida and continues to make slow but steady progress in many areas, though the extent of her eventual recovery is unknown. Her mother has been with her since I left Florida\u00a0after the accident and for that I’m very grateful.<\/p>\n A year ago today, last Thanksgiving, Shannon was here in Utah with me as we celebrated the holiday together. This Thanksgiving will be a completely different experience but I’m so very grateful that I still have a daughter and that her recovery is progressing.<\/p>\n I hope that all of my readers have a wonderful holiday and get to experience it with family and other loved ones. Never take family for granted. Ever…<\/p>\n Happy Thanksgiving to all!<\/p>\n Ron<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Two subspecies of Wild Turkey are found in Utah, Merriam’s Turkey and the Rio Grande Turkey. They’re very similar in appearance and are best distinguished by their distinctive habitat requirements.<\/p>\n