After monitoring and photographing two flocks of wild turkeys for a week or so, I was able to tell their story in my last post. I was satisfied and was ready to move on. The only images that I lacked were birds in flight, but I dismissed the idea. Turkeys are more apt to walk or run than fly (unless harassed), and it’s unethical to disturb wildlife during the stressful winter season.
Then, yesterday morning happened. I decided to take the back roads into town, mainly to see how wild turkeys were responding to a 19 degree (F) day with 20 mph winds blasting powdery snow across open fields. I didn’t expect to see anything, but instinctively grabbed the camera and adjusted the settings for speed and snow. The definition of insanity?
I found a couple of birds in the corn stubble on high ground, moving toward the lee side of a hill. I didn’t realize what was happening until I pulled over and shut the truck off to get a better look. A flock had left the roost and walked into dense vegetation in a gully near the road. They were now flying across the road, a few at a time, a hundred feet in front of me.
The last bird to cross afforded me an opportunity to capture the complete process of a big, heavy bird, flying at perhaps 30 or 40 mph, coming in for a “soft” landing. Enjoy!
And that’s how it’s done! Questions???
Photos by NB Hunter. © All Rights Reserved.
Nick's Nature Pics 
Great captures! The only time I saw a wild turkey fly was many years ago when one almost crashed into my windshield.
Thanks Hien. Glad you avoided contact — A windshield collision would not be pretty.
Talk about being in the right spot at the right time! Gorgeous photos, Nick! The conditions were beautiful too!
Thanks! Shooting in a snowstorm is a challenge for me – tricky lighting, autofocus errors, etc. – so I was thrilled to come away with a few keepers.
These are wonderful shots. Glad you were there to capture them in flight!
Appreciate the nice comments. I don’t see many images of wild turkeys and was thrilled to be able to share these….something different and exciting in the world of birds!
Great shots, Nick! I always enjoy your photos and the knowledge you share.
Beautiful shots of the wild turkeys. The soft landing shots were spectacular. You were lucky to catch them in flight.
Hi Betsy. Happy to hear your thought on the “soft landing” sequence because I think it was a unique opportunity that won’t be repeated in my lifetime! Things change so quickly … the turkeys/corn stubble/snow scene in the post has been wiped out with 2 days of warm weather and rain.
Great flight shots! A couple years ago I had a wild turkey fly across the road right in front of me, scared me to death practically! 😉 I had never seen one fly before until then. But, alas, no capture for me. Well done!
Thanks Donna. That’s a good story! It’s not unusual to have a turkey encounter around here in winter. Deep snow will drive birds to cleared roadsides where they can find a few weed seeds and grit. The appearance of a bird in flight is so different from the sleek, streamlined version on the ground and I’m glad I could capture the transformation!
Its always funny watching turkey fly!!!
Amazing!
These are great, Nick!
Thanks. I was very fortunate to be in the right place at the right time. Had I left the house 2 minutes later, I would have seen a barren landscape!
Really great shots, Nick. Luck favors the prepared!
I like the effect of the falling snow, the overlay it makes to the images.
We love turkeys!
It is so great to be seeing turkeys again! I love your photos. I’m struck by how out of proportion their tails look in flight 🙂