Archive: Around Town

Is she roosting or just resting?  A wild turkey has chosen the planter that runs alongside the Village of Lansing Office, a scenic spot to incubate her eggs.  Two weeks ago we reported that she was laying eggs there.  Typically turkeys lay up to a dozen eggs over a two week period.  Then they incubate the eggs for another four weeks.  This turkey began incubating about two weeks ago, so the blessed event should take place some time near Memorial Day at the end of this month.  She has chosen a spot where she can watch cars come and go in the Village Office parking lot.

Benjamin Franklin famously preferred the wild turkey to the eagle as the symbol of the United States of America.  Before the eagle was chosen he had also proposed the rattlesnake.  Others suggested a phoenix going up in flames, a two-headed eagle, a dove, and a rooster.  After Congress approved the eagle design for the Great Seal Franklin wrote a letter to his daughter, lamenting the choice.


"For my own part I wish the Bald Eagle had not been chosen the Representative of our Country. He is a Bird of bad moral Character," he wrote.  "He does not get his Living honestly. You may have seen him perched on some dead Tree near the River, where, too lazy to fish for himself, he watches the Labour of the Fishing Hawk; and when that diligent Bird has at length taken a Fish, and is bearing it to his Nest for the Support of his Mate and young Ones, the Bald Eagle pursues him and takes it from him.

"With all this Injustice, he is never in good Case but like those among Men who live by Sharping & Robbing he is generally poor and often very lousy. Besides he is a rank Coward: The little King Bird not bigger than a Sparrow attacks him boldly and drives him out of the District. He is therefore by no means a proper Emblem for the brave and honest Cincinnati of America who have driven all the King birds from our Country . . .

"I am on this account not displeased that the Figure is not known as a Bald Eagle, but looks more like a Turkey. For the Truth the Turkey is in Comparison a much more respectable Bird, and withal a true original Native of America . . . He is besides, though a little vain & silly, a Bird of Courage, and would not hesitate to attack a Grenadier of the British Guards who should presume to invade his Farm Yard with a red Coat on."

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