This Turkey Tuesday is about taking time to stretch. If you’re like me, the older you get, the more you realize the benefits of stretching. Taking a few minutes to stretch those sore, tight muscles sure helps you feel better. But have you ever wondered why birds stretch? Wild turkeys will frequently spread their wings and stretch, and they do this for various reasons. One, just like with us, stretching relieves muscle tension, which improves flexibility and circulation – this is one reason why turkeys will often stretch their wings after periods of rest, such as when they fly down from roost or start moving after loafing during the day. Two, stretching the wings and having the smooth muscles that control feather movements elevating contour feathers on the body releases heat, so it assists with thermoregulation. Three, spreading the wings and even shaking as they stretch helps to realign feathers prior to or after preening, which helps the bird ensure that feathers are arranged properly – it also facilitates drying of the feathers when they’re wet. Four, stretching the wings and spreading feathers apart creates a disturbance that helps to dislodge feather parasites, which aids in comfort. The take home is, us human beings understand the benefits of stretching, but those benefits are also at play for wild turkeys as they seek to maintain body condition and feather function.
Pic by Rc Gilliland
