Immediate Release
November 21, 2008
Batavia, Ohio. Things might be different if Ben Franklin’s proposal would have been accepted; he recommended that instead of the eagle, the turkey should be the official United States bird. This Thanksgiving, the United States Department of Agriculture estimates that over 45 million turkeys will be eaten. Before the big feast, you might want to check out Turkey Talk on Wednesday, November 26, beginning at 1 p.m. at Sycamore Park in Batavia. You’ll not only be able to learn lots of fascinating facts about turkeys, but you can search for wild turkeys, children can make a craft, and enjoy a snack.
“Over 200,000 wild turkeys live in Ohio and many can be found wondering across the trails at Sycamore Park,” said Clermont Parks Chief Naturalist Keith Robinson. “Wild turkeys can fly for short distances and can run up to 20 miles an hour. They have great vision and can see movement up to 100 yards away. Although they don’t have ears, they have a great sense of hearing and it’s difficult to sneak up on them.”
Robinson says male turkeys are called toms, females are hens, young birds are jakes, and the babies are poults. “Turkeys grow up quickly,” adds Robinson. “They can reach a weight of 30 pounds before they’re five months old!”
“The Turkey Talk program is a lot of fun and a great way to learn lots of fascinating facts you can toss out around the table during your Thanksgiving meal,” said Robinson.
Sycamore Park is located at 4082 SR 132 in Batavia Township. For more information about Turkey Talk, call the Clermont County Park District at (513) 876-9013.
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