Gould's Turkey

(back blip #4 of 4) They begin here

These turkeys are a common sight in Madera Canyon and other parts of the Sky Islands and Coronado National Forest. Since turkeys are synonymous with Thanksgiving Day in the United States I thought it would be a good idea to take a ride and get a shot of one.

Here's some information about this species adapted from the National Park Service:
The Gould’s Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo mexicana) is the largest subspecies of wild turkeys, but has the smallest population. It was first described in 1856, in northern Mexico, and its range extended into the sky islands of southern Arizona and New Mexico. Within 50 years, the once common Gould’s Turkey had been hunted to rarity, if not local extinction in Arizona.

In the 1990s, there was interest in reestablishing populations of Gould’s turkeys in their former range. Thirty-five wild Gould's turkeys were captured in Mexico and released into the Sky Islands of Arizona. The turkeys reproduced quickly, and made themselves at home in the rugged mountains. The reintroduction was successful and the population is now over 1000. There is limited hunting of this species and none on federal land.