Happy Thanksgiving 2014

ALL OF US AT THE WORLD BIRD SANCTUARY

 (HUMANS AND ANIMALS ALIKE)

ARE THANKFUL FOR ALL OF YOU—OUR SUPPORTERS.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

The Flintstone Chick

I am so excited to tell you all about the following bird and her family!  The first time I saw a bird like this, I thought, “That’s the wrong color.” 

I am going to share with you all about a special type of turkey (yes a turkey!) that has been becoming more and more popular with our visitors.  They are very beautiful birds that also have a cute-ugly factor to them.  In this article I will discuss the natural history and some personal facts about this species.

Fred (pictured above) is a fine example of a male Royal Palm Turkey (photo: Gay Schroer)

The bird’s  name is Wilma and she is a Royal Palm Turkey.  These turkeys originate from the wild turkey (Melegris gallopavo) and other turkeys I will mention later on.   These are a very special breed of turkey because of their plumage (feather color).  They are mostly white with black edging on the body, wing, and tail feathers.  These turkeys are not normally raised for food, but for exhibition (for show, either on personal farm property or for professional showing). 

Wilma was donated to the World Bird Sanctuary by Cathy E., one of our awesome volunteers!  Wilma is three years old this year and has become a mother!  She and her mate, Fred, are parents of seven adorable little chicks this year!  Below you can see the entire family!

Fred, Wilma & chicks (photo: Lisbeth Hodges)

These unique turkeys are native to North America.  The first Royal Palms to be discovered were in the 1920s at the farm of Enoch Carson of Lake Worth, Florida.  They were in a mixed flock with Black, Bronze, Wild, and Narragansett turkeys.  This type of coloration only appears in a small percentage from breeding different types of turkeys together. 

The females weigh from 10-12 pounds (4536-5443 grams) while males range from 16-22 pounds (7257-9979 grams).  Their diet consists of mainly grain, but they will also eat insects and vegetation when they encounter it in the wild.

Royal Palms are great foragers and very active (especially during breeding season).  The females will lay anywhere from five to nine eggs per clutch (group of eggs).  The eggs are large, cream to light brown, with spots present.  The female will protect the eggs and chicks more often than the male.  Below you can see Wilma sitting down with all the two week old chicks under her.  One, more adventurous than the others, is exploring around her.

Wilma is a shy bird around people, but she is a great mother who is always aware of her surroundings.  She is very gentle with her chicks.

Wilma, covering her chicks--all but the one adventurer! (photo: Lisbeth Hodges)

Wilma is available for adoption in our Adopt a Bird program.  To find out more information, call 636-861-3225.  All adoption donations are tax deductible.  She can be seen on the Exhibit Line, which is beyond the Kathryn G. Favre Wildlife Hospital.  The World Bird Sanctuary is open daily from 8am-5pm. 

Wilma is a very beautiful bird.  You should stop on by and see her and her family!

Submitted by Lisbeth Hodges, World Bird Sanctuary Naturalist

Thanksgiving is near - meet a Turkey Named Fred!

You may wonder what a Turkey Named Fred has to do with a wildlife hospital that treats birds of prey.

Fred is helping us to save eagles, hawks, owls, falcons, vultures and more! "Save the Future" is a CD featuring fun, entertaining environmentally-focused songs.  They were writtten, performed and produced by staff and volunteers at World Bird Sanctuary, who make up our in-house band, The Raptor Project.

All proceeds from the sale of the CD directly benefit the birds admitted to our wildlife hospital - helping to pay for their food and medical expenses, raising in excess of $3,000.

"Turkey Named Fred" is one of the most popular songs on the CD, and has spawned a cartoon, with a book in production to go along with this story.  You can listen to the song here - and if you like it, you can buy the CD here.  You can even visit Fred, our Royal Palm Turkey, at World Bird Sanctuary!

We would like to make "Turkey Named Fred" a new Thanksgiving tradition - and you can help by calling your local radio station to tell them about it.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Fred and all his friends at The World Bird Sanctuary wish you and all your loved ones a Happy Thanksgiving! 

On a personal level he wants everyone to know - HAM IS GOOD!!!!

Adopt A Bird Spotlight: Fred the Turkey (Royal Palm Turkey)

Fred's Story

Species:  Royal Palm Turkey

Hatched:  Spring 2006

Fred the Turkey (not to be confused with Fred our Hooded Vulture) was rescued as an egg by one of our staff members.  Another organization had a surplus of turkey eggs, and Fred's was to be discarded.  The egg was incubated here at the World Bird Sanctuary and, after hatching, Fred was hand raised by his rescuer.

It so happened that the staff member who rescued Fred is one of the talented founders of The World Bird Sanctuary's musical group, "The Raptor Project".  This multi-talented group writes, produces, and performs original songs about the amazing creatures they work with every day.  One of their most popular songs, which is featured on the recently released "Save the Future" CD, is "A Turkey Named Fred".  Our real live Fred has become a mascot for this talented group, and has appeared onstage at our annual concert series, which takes place every Thursday evening during the month of August.

In addition to his appearances at Birds in Concert, Fred has also appeared on one of our local television stations for a Thanksgiving promo.  However, not to worry--all the literature tells us that Royal Palm Turkeys are not bred for the table.  They are usually kept for their feathers, and as small farm pets because of their bug catching abilities.

Fred is usually pretty good natured for a Tom, but can be aggressive toward people he perceives as a threat--such as keepers who must catch him up to weigh him and give him shots.

Your adoption donation will help to keep Fred strutting his stuff in the coming year.  To adopt Fred call 636-225-4390.  The adoption donation for Fred is $100.00.

Every donation helps to feed, house, and provide medical care for the bird of your choice!  Adopt A Bird Parents receive:

° A personal visit with the bird you adopt!!!!!  Call 636-861-3225 to set up a time for your personal visit.

° Certificate of Adoption

° Color photo of the bird you've adopted

° Sponsorship Card

° One year's subscription to Mews News (our quarterly newsletter)

° Life History and Natural History of the bird

° 10% Discount off WBS merchandise

° Invitation to Sponsors-only events like Camera Day

° Discounts on WBS Special Events

° WBS Decal

Natural History

Royal Palm Turkey

Description:  attractive, small sized turkey; white with sharply contrasting metallic black edging on the feathers; saddle is black and tail is pure white with each feather having a band of black and an edge of white; coverts are white with a bank of black; wings are white with narrow edge of black on each feather; breast is white with exposed portion of each feather ending in a band of black to form a contrast of black and white similar to the scales of a fish; shanks and toes are deep pink; eyes are brown; beards are black; heads are red to bluish white; red to bluish white wattles; first known bird in America to have this color pattern appeared in a mixed flock in Lake Worth, Florida, in 1920

Sex:  hens considerably smaller than Toms, and do not have the beard, display feathers, or large loose wattles of the Toms

Weight:  Toms - 22 lbs; Hens - 12 lbs.

Habitat:  This is a domesticated farm animal

Status:  considered a heritage turkey breed; The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy categorizes them as critical on it's watchlist, and in danger of extinction

Behavior:  usually kept as a flock of one Tom to several hens; hens will lay one egg every other day from March through August or September if eggs are collected daily; if they have a full nest they will begin to brood

Vocalization:  Toms will gobble to attract a hen; hens have a variety of low clucking calls

» Some hens will have beards, but they do not usually develop until the second year

Meet Fred the Turkey

Just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday we wanted to introduce you to one of our celebrities, Fred the Turkey. 

Fred's star has been rising fast since the release of our in-house band's "Save the Future" CD.  This entertaining and educational children's CD was created and is performed by our talented "Raptor Project" band.  By far one of the favorite songs on the CD is "A Turkey Named Fred", which accounts for the meteoric rise of Fred's popularity.  

Of course, there are other species featured on the CD, such as "The Vulture Song", "The Owl Song", "Don't Be a Dodo", "The Raven Song", and "Hawk of the Highway" to name just a few.  However, Fred's not worried.  He's convinced that a bird with his magnificent presence can stave off the competition.

 Just to be on the safe side, though, he's keeping a low profile until after this Thursday!

If you'd like to hear about Fred and his competition, copies of the CD can be purchased in our Raptique Gift Shop.  What a great gift for the little ones on your Christmas list!  Pssst!  I'll let you in on a little known secret.  The big kids will like it too!