Wild Turkey hen roosting in an Aspen – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/800, ISO 500, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I got out into the field for a little while yesterday morning and because of the observation skills I have developed over many years I was able to find two Wild Turkey hens roosting in Aspen trees.
While it helps to know birds, to know what they look like, to know their habits and habitat, to know their calls and songs, and to know their behavior it also helps to know the lay of the land. By that I mean wherever I am in the field I get to know the landscape, the trees, the rocks, the hillsides, the clumps of vegetation, the bends in the road, and the general topography of a specific location and that data gets stored inside my brain for later use which is especially helpful to me as a bird photographer when I visit areas that I am familiar with.
I like to think of this as a type of “muscle memory” where the neurons in my brain fire off and alert me when there is something new, different or out of place in a location that I have been to before.
So yesterday when I saw a dark form in the branches of an aspen my brain alerted me to something “new” on the branches of the aspen and that made my eyes zero in on the large bird roosting in the tree.
I was quickly able to identify the Wild Turkey hen who was roosting in the aspen even though the sun had been up for some time. Even though I wasn’t able to get an unobstructed view of the hen turkey I took some photos of her anyway.
Hen Wild Turkey roosting in a budding Aspen tree – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/500, ISO 500, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
A minute or two later I spotted another hen in a different aspen a little further up the canyon. My view of the second hen turkey was even more obstructed by branches than the first hen but again I took photos of her.
When I looked at the photos of the second Wild Turkey hen at home on my monitor I realized that I enjoyed seeing her perched on the branches, that I had a clear view of her face and a lovely view of the delicate catkins and the white bark of the aspen. I think this photo also has a “Bev Doolittle” feel to it because the nearly camouflaged turkey isn’t point blank obvious right away.
Hen Wild Turkey leaving her roosting tree – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/800, ISO 500, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR, natural light
After a bit the first Wild Turkey hen took off from her roost and flew to the ground so I turned my attention back to the second hen because I expected her to leave her roost too and within seconds she pushed off from the tree to join the other hen on the ground below the stand of aspens.
I never got a clear view of either hen perched or as they lifted off from their roosts but I was simply happy to have found them at all. These photos aren’t great but I know they will make me smile every time I view them.
I saw and heard plenty of other birds yesterday and I look forward to heading back out there to park, watch, and wait for the woodland birds to appear.
Life is good. Stay safe.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Wild Turkey photos plus facts and information about this species.
P.S., I used to be able to see Wild Turkeys roosting in the trees next to my backyard in rural Virginia routinely but here in Utah I haven’t been as blessed. I probably just need to get to locations where I know the turkeys live earlier so I can find out where they roost regularly.
Very interesting commentary to compliment your great shots. Thanks Mia.
Love this series.
I love these photographs, Mia. The focus is outstanding considering the habitat. Beautiful birds.
NICE!!!
Love the first image—outstanding! Safe from most predators while sleeping. Hope you’re being safe too Mia.
On top of being scary, the economic impact is major. Hogle Zoo has just cancelled the bird shows this year.
Turkeys are fun to watch fly up into trees to roost they are very awkward landing.
I have a very photographic memory, If I have been out to the area where your photos come from, I know exactly the area, sometimes even the fence post….. My memory served me well in school for tests I could actually see in my mind the information from the source.
I came across hens roosting in sycamore trees the other day near a road. I had never seen them there before but with the reduced traffic maybe they felt safe. Great photos.
These are especially lovely.