The Wild Turkey : A Fascinating Fowl
Story by Christine Sudell ; photographs by Pamela Cohen
Morning on Kiawah is a magical time . As the first rays of sun sparkle on the water and penetrate the maritime forest , many of the creatures that share our island paradise begin to stir . Among these early risers are the wild turkeys , and the best time to spot these fascinating fowl is while they breakfast . Look for them foraging on the ground in open areas , paths , and even roadsides . But when you do , don ’ t expect to see birds just like those that end up browned and stuffed on our Thanksgiving tables .
The centerpiece of our Thanksgiving feast developed from wild turkeys domesticated in the Americas by the Aztecs and taken home by returning Spanish explorers in the early sixteen hundreds . During the ensuing century , the species spread so rapidly throughout Europe that early settlers brought them back to America as livestock . Eventually crossbred with several subspecies of North American wild turkeys , they are the forebears of today ’ s variety of domestic turkeys .
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