Did you know there are five different kinds of turkey in the U.S.? Iowa is home to the eastern subspecies which just happens to be the largest of them all. Trophy birds can weigh up to 30 pounds! Turkeys prefer to eat acorns and other tree nuts, but they will also eat insects like grasshoppers and spiders.
Turkeys are incredibly vocal birds and are known to make over 25 different calls! The gobble and yelp are two of the most common heard calls. Turkeys have excellent eyesight and can also hear 10 times better than humans, which makes them a difficult bird to sneak up on.
Around 1910, the last known wild Iowa turkey was observed in southern Iowa's Lucas County. Because of overhunting Turkeys were extirpated from the state until the 1960's when the bird was reintroduced from wild birds transplanted from Missouri. For the next several years birds would continue to be stocked in Iowa until the population was deemed healthy enough to allow for the first modern turkey season to be held in 1974 and turkey hunting continues today in two seperate seasons. Because of the stocking program and ongoing habitat improvements, the eastern wild turkey is great conservation success story and an iconic wildlife species of Iowa!
Now for some fun turkey puns!
What do you call a rude turkey?A jerk-key!
What does a one-legged turkey say?Wobble wobble!
Why did the turkey cross the road?To prove he wasn’t chicken!
What do all the gobblers down on the farm like to drink?Wild Turkey!
What do turkeys drink out of? A gooble-let!
What is the turkey’s favorite type of tree? The poul-tree!
What do you call an over-caffeinated turkey?A per-key!
Why did the turkey break up with his girlfriend?He couldn’t get to first baste!
What’s the best thing to do with cold turkey?Make turkey chili!
