'Turnback Tuesday' (on Wednesday) features history of the wild turkey

Turnback Tuesday explores the history of the wild turkey, which played a huge role with Native American tribes in the East for their meat and eggs as well as feathers for headgear. 
Turkey was abundant in Connecticut when settlers first arrived. With hunting and forest clearing, turkeys were eliminated by the early 1800s. 
Between 1975 and 1992, wild turkeys were reintroduced with great success in Connecticut and can be seen in all 169 Connecticut towns.

Tidbit: Benjamin Franklin wanted the American turkey as the national bird. He felt the turkey was much more respectable than the eagle.


Thanks as always to the Derby Public Library staff for sharing interesting history each week.