This Turkey Tuesday is about staying dry and the saying that oil and water don’t mix. Dry summer conditions will soon turn to wetter days in fall and winter, and wild turkeys have various ways of staying dry during those wet, dreary days ahead. When wild turkeys get wet, they will shake frequently like the tom in the 1st picture to rid themselves of excess water and allow feathers to dry. Their ability to shed that water so easily hinges on them being able to preen, and wild turkeys spend time each day preening like the tom in the 2nd picture. During preening, the uropygial gland at the base of the tail secretes waxy, oily secretions that the bird spreads over and through the feathers with its beak – these secretions are lipids, so they’re greasy, and tufts of feathers around the base of the gland help transmit the secretions more efficiently to the beak so they can be spread. Because the secretions are oily, they repel water which allows the feathers to shed water easily, but they also maintain the condition of the bird’s feathers. Interestingly, the secretions also serve as a bacteriostatic, meaning they prevent the growth of bacteria on the skin and reduce skin infections. Lastly, you’ll also notice that when it’s raining and wet, wild turkeys will use open areas which allows feathers to dry quickly while also allowing the bird to detect danger. The take home is wild turkeys have evolved ways of staying dry that hinge on the bird’s ability to basically just use oil to repel water.
Pics by Monte Loomis
