driftwoody
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Take the path closer to the edge, especially if less traveled
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Post by driftwoody on Nov 26, 2020 6:22:15 GMT -8
I thought turkeys could fly
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Travis
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WYOMING NATIVE
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Post by Travis on Nov 26, 2020 7:56:07 GMT -8
Funny skit. But what would really happen if you dropped a turkey from a helicopter at 2000 feet altitude? The question kind of bugs me because I'm not entirely sure. Wild turkeys can fly, but domestic turkeys often cannot because they are bred for meat. WKRP obviously used a domestic turkey. Lol.
On many occasions, while hiking, I've spooked a flock of wild turkeys and seen them rapidly fly up above the tree canopy and then sail down slopes hundreds of feet high. From what I read, their flying muscles quickly weaken, but they have strong shoulders. So most of the flight I have witnessed is actually merely sailing downward after the initial takeoff.
So the question is not "Can they fly?" but rather "How long can they sail?"
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jazzmom
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a.k.a. TigerFan
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Post by jazzmom on Nov 26, 2020 7:56:13 GMT -8
LOL... one of my FB friends posted this a few days ago and I had to go back and watch the whole episode. :D Reminded me how much I miss "simple" sitcoms. I will say, though, that my own experience was sort of the opposite. I always assumed that turkeys couldn't fly at all, so I was pretty surprised when I looked out of my second story bedroom window one morning and saw turkeys in my tree right outside of my window. They obviously got up there somehow...
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zeke
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Peekaboo slot 2023
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Post by zeke on Nov 26, 2020 7:59:13 GMT -8
ropes and 'biners, obviously.
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reuben
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Gonna need more Camels at the next refugio...
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Post by reuben on Nov 26, 2020 8:33:00 GMT -8
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tomas
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Post by tomas on Nov 26, 2020 8:36:16 GMT -8
Has it truly been 42 years since that wonderful episode? And it's still funny. When I'm in one of the tree stands hunting deer I often hear turkeys flying into the branches overhead to roost for the night. It's quite spectacular. Of course those same turkeys are nowhere to be found during turkey season...
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Travis
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WYOMING NATIVE
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Post by Travis on Nov 26, 2020 8:43:14 GMT -8
Travis, turkey dropping is still a "sport" in some parts of the country. Unfortunately. Thanks for the links, Reuben. Yeah, that's not my idea of sport. I'm guessing they are using domestic turkeys, but either way, it's a shameful display.
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Post by bradmacmt on Nov 26, 2020 9:22:26 GMT -8
When I'm in one of the tree stands hunting deer I often hear turkeys flying into the branches overhead to roost for the night. It's quite spectacular. Of course those same turkeys are nowhere to be found during turkey season... It's a funny sound, and quite the racket - lots of crashing and broken branches. While not graceful flyers, they are excellent fryers
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Post by johntpenca on Nov 26, 2020 9:44:10 GMT -8
I'm pretty sure that farm raised turkeys have their wings clipped. Wild ones can definitely fly.
I loved WKRP in Cincinnati BITD. It's still good on the rare occasion a re-run is telecast..
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Post by autumnmist on Nov 26, 2020 16:56:35 GMT -8
jazzmom, that's a stunning photo. Was that the only time you've seen turkeys in your yard? Are they prevalent in other yards in your area? Given the development of AA, I'm kind of surprised, but I've also seen them in w. Bloomfield along Woodward, which I thought was quite unusual, especially given the traffic in that area.
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Post by starwalker on Nov 26, 2020 18:18:21 GMT -8
My favorite episode was where Johnny thought the phone cops were after him when somebody blew up the transmitter.
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BigLoad
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Pancakes!
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Post by BigLoad on Nov 26, 2020 18:34:35 GMT -8
I feel lucky to see wild turkeys 3-4 times a week, from groups as small as four or five up into the hundreds. I can understand why they don't take to the air very often. There's not much need when you can run that fast.
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Post by hikerjer on Nov 26, 2020 22:54:32 GMT -8
So the question is not "Can they fly?" but rather "How long can they sail?" Turkey's can definitely fly, but not indefinitely.
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balzaccom
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Waiting for spring...
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Post by balzaccom on Nov 27, 2020 6:30:14 GMT -8
Farm raised turkeys also have been bred for have oversized breasts and are much less active than wild turkeys. Wild turkeys can fly. I doubt farm raised turkeys can get off the ground.
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