This Tom Wile Turkey Meleagris gallopavo was seen in an orchard close to a friends home where I visited last week. In the late 1800's-1900's Wild Turkeys were hunted extensively and their population was in severe decline. After many attempts to restore lost local populations, wildlife biologists finally found successful techniques for capturing birds, releasing them into habitat where they could thrive, and reestablish viable populations.
In part because these birds are popular targets for game hunters, the funding and enthusiasm for establishing new populations has been high. Today there are Wild Turkeys in most of the areas where they were naturally occurring, as well as in many new areas. In many places there are so many Wild Turkeys that they have become a nuisance with their foraging and loud calls.
Still it is always somewhat of a thrill to see these large game birds, especially a displaying "Tom" turkey like the one above.
Good birding.