Adolescent wild Rio Grande turkeys come into my garden for some water on a hot day. They do their cute little scratch on the ground looking for bugs. When their mother decides it's time to leave, they start walking up the hill. At 1:44, on the left side of the screen, midway, a squirrel falls from the tree and the mother turkey puts her feathers up and rushes towards the squirrel--in defensive mode! But no problem....and they all go on their way
@NewEnglandgardening --The males do not get involved with the chick raising--they are around--and they defend the territory but no child rearing. I have seen them go after the chicks, too, like "get out of here!" It was odd how the squirrel "fell" out of the tree--he may have slipped--those eucalyptus branches can be thin and brittle--he was up right away, however.
Birdsie39 6 months ago
I had seven in my backyard the other day here in Massachusetts. I guess the males don't stick around to help? So the squirrel just fell out of the tree?
NewEnglandgardening 6 months ago