This big gobbler is ready for breeding season, which peaks in April. Wild turkeys disappeared from Ohio’s forests in the early 1900s, returning in earnest thanks to a wildly successful Ohio Division of Wildlife reintroduction program that has brought back this magnificent upland species to all 88 of Ohio’s counties. They were first reintroduced to Lucas County in Oak Openings Preserve Metropark and have since become well established, especially in the western parts of the county. Listen for their unmistakable “gobble,” which can carry over long distances. Listen, too, for the lesserknown vocalizations such as the hen’s yelp. According to the Ohio Division of Wildlife, the nesting period for these big birds runs from mid-April to mid-June, with most hatches occurring from mid-May into June. Wild turkeys are very adaptable, even more adaptable than was generally thought when the reintroduction program began. They are a hardy non-migratory species, well-equipped to survive the seasons. Today, they are considered common in the state, with an estimated population of nearly 180,000 birds.“Though they may appear to be drab at a distance, this gobbler image proves otherwise,” said Art Weber, Metroparks Toledo nature photographer, who photographed the wild turkey, left, at Oak Openings. This big male is showing off, strutting his best stuff in hopes of attracting a mate. He has dropped down his wings and puffed up his breast and back feathers to make himself appear much larger. He adds to the show with the most dramatic touch of all–raising his tail feathers and spreading all 18 of them into the huge classic fan.
On his head, the snood–the piece of skin that hangs over the beak–is engorged to bright red, as is the wattle on his neck, said Mr. Weber, adding, “You can also see the upper portion of the tasseled beard dangling from mid-breast.”
