Turkeys and LBBs

Wild turkeys near Weston Oregon          © Diane B. Reed

Thanksgiving is almost upon us, so it seems appropriate to feature the turkeys we came across near Weston, Oregon. Yesterday, Blue Mountain Audubon had their annual Turkey Trot count in Walla Walla and Columbia Counties. Word has it that they saw 291 wild turkeys!  Outstanding!

A friend of mine told me that her husband went out turkey hunting every year for more than fifteen years, slogging around in the woods and getting cold, tired, and hungry. Despite his persistence, he never bagged a turkey. But when he and his wife went on hikes they saw lots of the big birds up close. He was so exasperated that he gave up turkey hunting and became a birder.

Pine Siskins and House Finches © Diane B. Reed

Speaking of birding, it's easy to get frustrated trying to identify the myriad of small birds that are found in our area. Even experienced birders have trouble identifying birds at a distance, and often refer to these unidentifiable birds as "LBBs" (little brown birds). If you have a bird feeder, or you're lucky to get close enough, you find that these seemingly nondescript birds can be much more colorful  and varied up close than you might expect. Our feeder attracts a number of different LBBs including Pine Siskins, Goldfinches, House Finches, Juncoes, and Chickadees.

House Finch (orange variant) © Diane B. Reed

There's a lot of competition at the feeders and it's entertaining to watch the flapping and fighting over a perch, even when there are plenty to go around. The instinct for survival is a deep-seated one, even when they're enjoying a free meal. At the same time they have to keep their eyes out for the Sharp Shinned Hawk and the neighborhood cats.

We should be thankful that we don't have to compete for our meals and  look over our shoulders for predators. I know I am.