Turkey Time

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day in the United States, a day when our family traditionally gobbles up a turkey.

Turkeys are native to North America and were domesticated by Native Americans in Mexico prior to the arrival of the first European explorers. The name “turkey” was apparently given to African guinea-fowl that were imported to Europe by way of the country of Turkey and called turkeys. When the domesticated birds we call turkeys arrived in Europe the name was applied to them. Just a bit confusing.

Wild turkeys are widespread in most of the U.S. and Mexico where, depending on the season, they feed on nuts, fruits and insects .

Although somewhat ungainly, wild turkeys are, in their own way, beautiful birds –

In addition to gobbling a meal of turkey and its accompaniments on Thanksgiving Day we will, more importantly, be grateful for family, friends and the beauty of the natural world.