Boulder dumb turkeys

[David Waltman]

The wind continues to be nasty, at least here in the foothills here in Boulder, so I haven't left home yet today.  Sixteen Wild Turkeys spent the last hour and a half in my yard and along the driveway.  After they arrived, I threw several pounds of sunflower seeds out both inside and outside of our fence.  They're so stupid that they have a hard time remembering that they have the capability to get over a five-foot rail fence, hence the food on both sides of the fence.  When the flock finally moved on, one of the birds that was inside the fencing got left behind and spent about five minutes frantically running back and forth along the fence as if it was trapped.  I decided to step out and photograph that bird, and it seemed a bit more nervous due to my presence, but still couldn't remember how to get over the fence.  Then the big dog bounded out through the doggie door and was attracted to the turkey.  As you can imagine, the bird's adrenaline kicked in and it remembered how to fly to escape the dog.  Is any bird dumber than a turkey?
  Thursday begins count week in Boulder, and turkeys are not always easy.  I was going to Murdoch's to get more bird food today anyway, and I'll add 50# of corn to the list, and try to keep the turkeys around for the count.
David Waltman
6,000 feet; 1/2 way between Boulder and Lyons