Video: Close Up of Tom Turkey Preening (Ottawa - October 6)

[Justin Hoffman]

Hello All,
Here's some video footage from this past week, showing a tom turkey preening. With 5,000 to 6,000 feathers, it certainly is a big task...



Cheers,
Justin

[Sharon]

Really nice video.
They are quite the bird. Our family raised turkeys for many years - the white ones that became popular in the 1950s. Thanksgiving makes me think of them - busy time.
Many stories I could tell, but I remember when the guard dog jumped through my Dad's bedroom window to alert him to stray dogs attacking the turkeys.
Also remember when my Dad was delivering a turkey and the farmer's dog came roaring out and grabbed the turkey from my Dad's hand. The farmer called to say "Where is my turkey? It's Thanksgiving." Oh I delivered it my Dad said.

[ihunt]

nice video, I guess you found your turkey hunting spot

[rodmcd]

Great video. Quality was excellent. Was it a long lens? Big crop? Or were you just close to the bird? Thanks.
rodmcd

[gbk]

Thanks Justin-nice video ( another nice one).
I knew birds doing preening(just by observing them ...mostly back home ,domesticated chickens,ducks and geese).

After this video(and your omments about the magnitude of the task at hand) i spent some time to understand preening-wow,what a a way of Mother Nature taking care of their own.
A true marvel of "engineering"feathers are actually.
Cheers

[Justin Hoffman]

Really nice video.
They are quite the bird. Our family raised turkeys for many years - the white ones that became popular in the 1950s. Thanksgiving makes me think of them - busy time.
Many stories I could tell, but I remember when the guard dog jumped through my Dad's bedroom window to alert him to stray dogs attacking the turkeys.
Also remember when my Dad was delivering a turkey and the farmer's dog came roaring out and grabbed the turkey from my Dad's hand. The farmer called to say "Where is my turkey? It's Thanksgiving." Oh I delivered it my Dad said.

Great story, Sharon! I dated a girl once who's uncle owned a turkey farm. Going into that bard of 4,000 birds at my feet sure was a little overwhelming, lol!

[Justin Hoffman]

nice video, I guess you found your turkey hunting spot

Public land, but off limits to hunting. Which is ok - great for my photography and trail cam work

[Justin Hoffman]

Great video. Quality was excellent. Was it a long lens? Big crop? Or were you just close to the bird? Thanks.
rodmcd

This was shot with a 150-500mm telephoto. The birds were approx. 50 feet away. Saying that, the birds are pretty comfortable around me at this off-limits to hunting spot - sometimes walking to within 15 feet of me without any worry.

[Justin Hoffman]

Thanks Justin-nice video ( another nice one).
I knew birds doing preening(just by observing them ...mostly back home ,domesticated chickens,ducks and geese).

After this video(and your omments about the magnitude of the task at hand) i spent some time to understand preening-wow,what a a way of Mother Nature taking care of their own.
A true marvel of "engineering"feathers are actually.
Cheers

Cheers, gbk - appreciate the kind words. Yes, preening is quite the undertaking. All fascinating stuff in the world of wildlife!