Wild Turkey: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, April 2026 — The Wild Turkeys are emerging from the woods at last, coming out onto the roadsides and lawns (and open fields) to feed and to court. Yesterday, Carol spotted a big tom in full display right in the middle of the street just up from us, before sunrise, and I threw on some clothes and went out with my camera. There were, as I suspected, two Toms and a bunch of hens working the back yards along the tree line. I followed them as they wandered their way along the edge of the woods, up the street. Though the light was not great that early, I took a lot of photos. How could I not? This one shows the Tom in full display, feathers puffed out to three times its normal size and with that amazing tail in the air. Such an impressive bird. When Ben Franklin made his argument that the apparently humble Wild Turkey should be our national bird, and not the imperial Eagle, I am certain that this is the bird he was thinking of! (And I often wonder (especially in light of what is happening today) what a difference it might have made if Franklin had had his way?) Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 Contemporary at about 1200mm equivalent field of view crop. Program with bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator. (ISO 4000 by the way.)