I tried to get a good shot of the tom turkey that I see every morning. This is not my photo, but it is of a fellow about the same size as the male I see in the vineyards in the morning. He stands as tall as a child and has about 12-15 females traveling with him. He is quite the sight!
Wild turkeys have been considered a non-native species in California, although there were prehistoric turkeys roaming the state. Turkey hunting season opens March 26, and according to ESPNOutdoors, turkeys are plentiful in all areas of Northern California.
Many times wild turkeys have been accused of eating and damaging grape crops in the vineyards. But in a study conducted by the National Wild Turkey Federation in 2002, cameras were placed in vineyards of Napa, Sonoma and Mendocino counties to capture wildlife activity during the night and day. The result? While wild turkeys made up to 45 percent of the wildlife observed in vineyards, only 7 percent were seen eating wine grapes.
