14 | SUNRAYS
OCTOBER 2013
ONLINE:
SCTXCA.ORG
CA NEWS
Sun City residents routinely see wildlife
that other urban residents do not see. A
flock of Rio Grande wild turkeys is one
of these exciting features. If we watch
them, we can see what they eat, some
of their social habits, and how they act
at mating time. We may even see a hen
and her coults (chicks). Here’s some basic
information about our turkeys:
The Rio Grande Wild Turkey (Meleagris
intermedia), ranges through Texas to
Oklahoma, Kansas, New Mexico, and
Colorado. They average a three-year life
span and have 5,000 to 6,000 feathers.
The domestic turkey is a descendant of
this species.
In Texas, Rio Grandes can be found
roughly west of Interstate 45 and east
of a line from Fort Stockton to Amarillo.
Wild turkeys are opportunistic feeders.
Generally, they will eat what is available
as they encounter it. The wild turkey is
omnivorous. It will eat a wide variety of
both plant and animal matter. Grasses
are utilized throughout the season. In-
sects are important food at certain times
of the year. Snails and snakes are also
consumed. Wild turkeys get water from
green plant material, fruits, insects,
puddles, ponds, creeks and rivers.
Normallly, the adult male weighs be-
tween 11-24 pounds and measures 39-
49 inches in length. They have a fleshy
wattle that hangs from the top of the
beak, called a “snood.” Their heads and
necks are colored brilliantly with red,
blue and white. Their head color can
change with the turkey’s mood. When
a male turkey is excited, its head turns
blue; when ready to fight, it turns red.
A solid white head and neck is when he
is the most excited. The male is larger
and much more colorful than the female.
Females have feathers that are duller, in
shades of brown and gray. The adult fe-
male is typically much smaller―between
5.5-12 pounds and 30-37 inches long.
Mating begins during the months of
March and April. Males display for
females by puffing out their feathers,
spreading out their tails and dragging
their wings. Also, they use gobbling,
drumming/booming and spitting to at-
tract females. Males are polygamous,
mating with as many hens as they can.
After breeding, hens seek out potential
nesting sites. The hen scratches a shal-
low depression in the ground, but makes
little other nest preparation. The clutch
size averages 10 to 11 eggs. The eggs are
cream to tan in color. Incubation begins
when the last egg is deposited and con-
tinues for approximately 28 days.
Enjoy the turkeys, one of our little se-
crets in Sun City.
Sources: Texas Parks andWildlife; Texas
A&M University; Wikipedia
Sun City Wildlife: Turkeys
Submitted by the Wildlife Management Committee
Landscaped Maintained Homes
Submitted by David Longacre, Customer Service Technician
Fall will be a busy season for the Land-
scaped Maintained Homes crews. Aaron
and I have already walked the neigh-
borhoods and made a list of the beds
that will receive new evergreen plants
or trees this month. Tender perennials
will be installed in the spring to avoid
winter kill should we have a hard freeze.
As a reminder, the program is designed
to replace dead and declining or, in some
cases, overgrown plants - not plants that
the homeowner dislikes due to color of
flower or plant.
TCB will set the irrigation for new plants
until they are well established. Many
of the Green Mound Junipers in the
Garden Homes have reached the end of
their life cycle and are showing spider
mite damage that is hard to reverse.
To fill the small areas, we have to pick
plants that stay compact and do not
interfere with vehicles and foot traffic.
Having read various articles about the
shortage of nectar plants for the Mon-
arch Butterflies, we will concentrate on
choosing colorful perennials that attract
butterflies and hummingbirds or an up-
right evergreen plant. Flame Acanthus,
Greggs Blue Mistflower, Milkweed and
Skypencil Holly are at the top of our list.
October has two scheduled visits, one
fertilizer application mixed in with fall
pre-emergent, one irrigation check and
the monthly shrub pruning. After the
temperatures lingered over the 100-de-
gree mark, some lawns showed hotspots
due to heat stress, which was expected.
No turf was lost. When writing these ar-
ticles, it is difficult to predict the weath-
er, but in October we normally decrease
irrigation settings to two (2) days a week
if possible; even one (1) day a week if the
rain dancers have done a good job. Plants
and grass in our soil perform well with
¾” to 1” of water a week.
If you see the landscape team working in
your yard and you are pleased with their
efforts, give thema “thumbs up.” If you are
displeased, contact your landscape staff so
we can address any grievances with the
contractor and correct the situation.
QUESTIONS OR SUGGESTIONS
Email David Longacre
Aaron Johnson
NEXT LMH MEETING
Wednesday, October 2
10 a.m., AC, MR 3/4
Green Mound Junipers
