This Turkey Tuesday is about shaking it out. If you get to watch turkeys for any extended period of time, you’ll see them shake their feathers out – which is termed rousing. During this exercise, the bird will raise the feathers away from the body, shake the entire body, and then settle the feathers back into place. If you also pay attention, when turkeys do this, they are clearly comfortable with their surroundings, which is a good sign if you’re a turkey hunter! But this behavior has several benefits to the bird, which is why you’ll see them do it multiple times daily. One, rousing sheds dust or water and allows the bird to shake off ectoparasites. Two, it essentially acts as a feather reset, wherein the barbules on the feathers zip back up and the feather are realigned, which ensures the feather structures and waterproofing are maintained. Three, raising and then shaking all of the feathers on the body allows the bird to release heat, which is obviously important as temperatures warm in spring and summer – likewise, shaking the feathers during cold periods allows the bird to trap air against the skin and stay warm. The take home is rousing is an important behavior for wild turkeys, as it helps maintain the function of their feathers and regulate body temperatures.
Pic by Bill Leconey
