The Modern Turkey  In Need of Thanksgiving Deliverance  At a
distance, turkeys look like otherwordly visitors moving
gracefully through the grass. Close up one sees their large,
dark, almond-shaped eyes and sensitive fine-boned faces.  In
pre-Columbian times over 10 million wild turkeys ranged in what
are now the United States and Mexico. They thrived from forest
to plain, needing only foliage cover for nesting, trees for
roosting, food such as nuts, acorns and grass, and water.
Destruction of much of their natural habitat and heavy hunting
drastically shrank their numbers and original range.  In mating
season, wild male turkeys ("toms") form territories that the
hens move freely in and out of. A typical group includes one
male and about five females. The turkey hen seeks seclusion to
brood her eggs, which hatch in the Spring not far from the
mating area. The turkey mother is alert, protective and brave.
If surprised before her young can fly she may "freeze" or sound
a warning note causing her youngsters, cal