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To: Valin
The Washington Post reports that Dan Rather has explained turkeys for us:

"Thanksgiving is as good a time as any to remember 'the wild turkey dance.' We aren't the only ones who love to eat turkey; rattlesnakes do, too, especially eggs and young ones. Which leads to a common scene in the woods: Rattlesnake tries to sneak up on a nest. Daddy turkey (a Tom) senses, then sees, him coming. The Tom gets between snake and poults (that's the correct word for the babies and, by the way, a group of turkeys is a 'rafter'), and begins to weave and dance, wings spread.

"Snake strikes, again and again -- but gets only feathers from the wings. While the Tom and the rattler are dancing, Momma turkey and young skip. Once they're safe, the Tom just flies away. Dancing is the turkey's only defense. But in a lifetime of watching, I've never seen it fail.

"The wild turkey dance -- a thing of strange beauty, grace and mystery."

Just like Dan.

25 posted on 11/27/2002 6:53:23 AM PST by mountaineer
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To: mountaineer
We learn something new everyday.
File this under oddments and exoticia.
32 posted on 11/27/2002 7:32:33 AM PST by Valin
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To: mountaineer
Thanks, mountaineer, for the funny turkey story by Dan Rather. I wonder about this man. LOL! The troops should get a laugh from this one.
203 posted on 11/27/2002 8:59:38 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska
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