In this part of Illinois there is not much interesting wildlife. We have the usual suburban critters (deer, raccoons, rabbits, squirrels, skunks, opossums, coyotes), but it is rare to see anything more interesting.

Last Thursday I looked out my kitchen window in the morning and saw what I first thought was a turkey vulture because of its size (big!) and dark coloration. However, after observing it for a while, and noting its behavior and seeing its plumage from the back side, I realized it was a wild turkey. Evidently one of its legs was hurt, and it was limping and hopping around on the other leg. I just watched it for a while, and when I went outside to get in my car it hopped off into the woods.

This was taken from indoors through the kitchen window:

It was the first time I’d seen a wild turkey at my home since moving here. Later my roommate said he saw a flock of turkeys in our yard. I’m hoping they will hang around for a while.

PS: In case you’re wondering where the title of this blog post hails from, let me point you to the timeless American classic, “Turkey in the Straw.”