Monday Memo

The Star of Thanksgiving Day—Mr. Turkey!

If you visit 91% of American households this Thursday you will enjoy a meal that features a Thanksgiving favorite--turkey. Before you grill, bake or fry this delicious bird here a few little known facts to ponder.

• The bird is named after the country of Turkey.
• ​There are six subspecies of wild turkey, all native to North America. The pilgrims hunted and ate the eastern wild turkey, sometimes called the forest turkey.
• America’s turkeys almost went extinct in 1930 from the loss of forest habitat and over hunting. Recovery efforts have been successful and there are now an estimated 7 million turkeys in North and Central America.
• Adult male turkeys are called “toms” and females are called “hens”. Very young birds are “poults” and adolescents are called “jakes”. A group of turkeys can be called a “crop”, “dole”, “gang”, “posse” or “raffle”.
• The wild turkey’s bald head can change color in seconds with excitement or emotion. The bird’s head can be red (pink), white or blue.
• Turkey gobbles can be heard a mile or more away.
• Turkeys can run at speeds of up to 25 miles per hour and fly as fast as 55 miles per hour.
• Wild turkeys sleep in trees.
• It is said that the first presidential pardon ever given was by Harry Truman in 1947 and it was given to a turkey. Since then the annual tradition of sparing the lives of two turkeys (one for the President and one for the Vice President) continues.