While doing some birding in Marquette County today I accidentally flushed a Wild Turkey from its nest. I did not realize the nest was there with a turkey sitting on eggs. It was well hidden unless you were standing right in front of it. Interesting that the nest is in an open field with little vegetation other than this patch of native grass in an 8 foot circle, grasses 3 feet high. The nest was made of dead grasses. I quickly took a few images of the nest and eggs and left the area. This nest contained 13 eggs. In some images near the bottom of this post a came across a Wild Turkey nest back in May of 2011. This was on the same piece of land, but a heavily wooded area, nest was in a broken off older tree top laying on the ground next to a log. That nest also held 13 eggs but was made of leaves. The size of Wild Turkeys eggs are 1.6″ -1.9″ wide by a length of 1.9″- 2.7″. Typically Wild Turkeys build their nests on the ground, in a 1″ deep scrap made of material in the area of the nest site.
Wild Turkey nest with eggs Marquette Co. WI. May 24, 2014
Wild Turkey eggs in nest Marquette Co. WI. May 24, 2014
Wild Turkey nest with eggs, more distant shot of nest site, Marquette Co. WI. May 24, 2014
Wild Turkey nest with eggs Marquette Co. WI. May 24, 2014
Wild Turkey nest with eggs Marquette Co. WI. May 24, 2014
Wild Turkey eggs in nest, Marquette Co. WI. May 24, 2014
Wild Turkey head, image taken August 23, 2010 in Waukesha Co.
Wild Turkeys, image taken on January 31, 2010 in Waukesha Co.
Wild Turkey nest with eggs Marquette Co. WI. May 27, 2011.
Wild Turkey nest with eggs Marquette Co. WI. May 27, 2011.
Jim – thanks for sharing the secrecy of a wild bird nest. One can imagine the hours, the days, the hen sits quietly, patiently serving her purpose. I really love the portrait you’ve captured of the female. You’ve shown her vulnerability, her alert and cautious features. Quite wonderful to see.
Very cool! Glad Easter celebrations do not include these eggs! Brilliant photography to go with an interesting/curious subject. Thanks, Jim!
I found a clutch with 13 eggs, put my trail up but no mom in a cple weeks. What should i do with the turkey eggs?