Page 1 - Sentinel Novemberl 2017

The Perry Park

Sentinel

NOVEMBER 2017

Happy Turkey Day probably be pleased to know that eventually we developed

a national Turkey Day, sometimes called Thanksgiving.

Given the number of wild turkeys among us these days, it So in honor of the turkey—and of Ben Franklin—here is
seems a shame to cook and eat their brothers and sisters. his irreverent assessment of our national bird:
They have become our neighbors, after all. I find them
entertaining---the hens bustling about nervously, flitting “For my own part I wish the Bald Eagle had not been
from one group to the next with hot news, the toms strut- chosen the Representative of our Country. He is a Bird of
ting endlessly, trying desperately (and usually futilely) to bad moral Character. He does not get his Living honestly.
keep their women in line... Almost human, right? You may have seen him perched on some dead Tree near
the River, where, too lazy to fish for himself, he watches
Actually, rumor has it that if Benjamin Franklin had had the Labour of the Fishing Hawk; and when that diligent
his way, the wild turkey would have become our national Bird has at length taken a Fish, and is bearing it to his
bird. That’s not quite true. He thought the bird on the pro- Nest for the Support of his Mate and young Ones, the
posed seal looked more like a turkey than a bald eagle— Bald Eagle pursues him and takes it from him.
and it’s obvious he was NOT fond of eagles! He would Continued on page 3

Photo by Pati Palumbo