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H2O Man

(78,409 posts)

13. In the northeast,

Reply to eppur_se_muova (Reply #8)

Thu Nov 27, 2025, 07:38 PM

Nov 27

there is a type of thorn apple that has long thorns on it. Pre-Columbus, a thorn was bent in half and put through a kernal of corn, with the thorn having a string made from plant fiber from inner bark, tied to a shrub or tree. A turkey eats the corn, and the thorn pops open, creating something similar to a fish hook that gets stuck in the bird's throat. It sounds a tad cruel, but there were not grocery stores back then.

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eppur_se_muova

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Discuss: Can Turkeys fly? [View all] usonian Nov 27 OP

Depends on the turkey. paulkienitz Nov 27 #1

Looks wild usonian Nov 27 #2

Yes, but not if pushed out of a helicopter... haele Nov 27 #3

Wild turkeys roost in trees fargone Nov 27 #4

Wild turkeys do fly, but usually short flights to avoid predators. Enter stage left Nov 27 #5

We have tons of wild turkeys everywhere, here. They fly short distances, but doubt allegorical oracle Nov 27 #9

Arthur Carlson, Herb Tarlek and Les Nessman xmas74 Nov 27 #6

Guess who's not coming for dinner. usonian Nov 27 #7

Wild, native North American turkeys can fly, actually pretty well. The Southern Mexican subspecies of wild turkey ... eppur_se_muova Nov 27 #8

Have watched Florida wild turkeys for 40+ years. On the ground, they remain in flocks. Have allegorical oracle Nov 27 #10

Well, it's Florida. :) Seriously, though, there's a separate subspecies in FL. They may behave differently. eppur_se_muova Nov 27 #12

I've seen numerous H2O Man Nov 27 #14

In the northeast, H2O Man Nov 27 #13

Very interesting ! But ... I'd never heard of a thorn apple. :) Oh, It's Jimson weed ! eppur_se_muova Nov 27 #16

Yes. H2O Man Nov 27 #11

We have a lot of wild turkeys in the Twin Cities chowmama Nov 27 #15

Wild turkeys can, domesticated (i.e. farmed) can't. Angleae Nov 28 #17

They definitely fly up into the trees to escape the dogs Unwind Your Mind Nov 28 #18

Flying turkeys KentuckyWoman Nov 28 #19

Every time Trump takes Air Force One DFW Nov 28 #20