My Big Surprise

This year my birthday gift was "for the birds." My husband and I went to our local Wild Birds Unlimited Store, and I got a new bird feeding station. In the past, it has been very frustrating; because sometimes as fast as I put food out, my little furry friends, the squirrel, the chipmunk and the raccoon, have climbed my pole and have devoured the choice food, leaving the birds just crumbs.

So far, this has really worked. The bottom of the pole is constantly covered with muddy footprints, but no little furry creature has made it to the top. I can actually put food out and some of it will still be there the next day, and my feeders aren't laying on the ground empty and broken. Yah!

Of course, I thought, this new feeding system would attract lots and lots of neat migrating birds, and I have been a little disappointed because so far there have not been any Rose-breasted Grosbeaks or Indigo Buntings. 

However, I did have a big surprise the other evening.....As I was leaving my computer/sewing room, I looked out the window; and guess what was eating at the bottom of my new feeding system...

I'm not sure who was more surprised to see whom!

I have seen Turkeys around here in the Fall of the year,

but never in the Spring....or at my feeder.

It stayed and ate even with me watching it through the window

And gave me an annoyed look every once in a while

But when I went outside to get a better picture,

it headed for the hill

and flew away up and out into the forest.

Wow!  Of course, I was just standing there

with my camera in hand and my mouth opened.

I had never seen a Turkey fly before!

Amazing how something so big could easily lift up into the air.