Comments on: Where Did All These Big Island Turkeys Come From?

By: Donald

Donald — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 07:46:14 +0000

Have started seeing the turkeys in HPP. Figure all things being equal, at least the turkeys compete for food with other introduced species. Esp. rats & coquis. Also, here on the east side with all the attendent problems with snail and slug spread disease, maybe the turkeys will be a positive? Although if the population explodes (like nearly every other introduced species of plant and or animal has done) we will have to introduce wolves and on and…

By: Pat Strausse R(B)

Pat Strausse R(B) — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 23:47:44 +0000

Hi Paul,

You are most welcome for the information. Since I was wondering, I thought that the answer might be of interest to others.
If you are just visting right now, you may not believe it, but my purely visual survey of the island seems to indicate that the numbers of turkeys is down quite a bit presently. I would think this would be due to the drought.

And John, you bring up an interesting point. I don’t know what ecological impact the turkeys have had on the island. I do know that they have a major impact on people in the areas that they inhabit. For a period earlier this year, we had our horses in a pasture that was “shared” with up to 6 birds every morning. Which meant the water trough had to be dumped and cleaned twice a day and the loose minerals that had lasted a couple of weeks were gone every day. Glad we’re not using that pasture anymore!

By: John

John — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 23:18:07 +0000

Another example of men trying to adjust nature to meet their needs. It has been estimated for each species successfully into new habitat, at least three native species are effected negatively and one becomes extinct. What was lost from the Hawaiian ecosystem so golfers and tourists can be entertained?

By: Paul

Paul — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 23:28:47 +0000

Thank you for the info. I ‘googled’ several sites for wild turkeys in Hawaii, including government sites and just got hunting info. Your site gave me the historical background I was looking for.It was somewhat of a shock to me, being from the New England state of Connecticut, to see these creatures here on the Big Island. Thank You, Pat.

By: S. Brewer

S. Brewer — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 04:32:01 +0000

Living in Waikoloa on the golf course we regularly saw the wild turkeys that lived there. It was amusing to see golfers wondering how to get through them to their ball. It became easy for us to attract them by giving them old cereal and crackers, and once attracted will visit often and leave quite a mess. One old one-eyed tom would stand right next to me and eat out of my hand. I wouldn’t advise hand feeding from children as they do peck quite hard.

By: Sandy C. Shore

Sandy C. Shore — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:10:33 +0000

Witnessed a few fly into a tree one day in Waikoloa, never realized a turkey could fly! Thanks for the info Pat – and welcome to Hawai`i Life! It’s so awesome to see you working along side Katie and her crew! With Aloha – Sandy C. Shore

By: Lucy Clark

Lucy Clark — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:57:04 +0000

Tried eating wild turkey once. tough and stringy. They are in no danger of extinction :-)

By: Sport Fishing Hawaii

Sport Fishing Hawaii — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:10:23 +0000

If you live on the Big Island you don’t even have to buy your turkey for Thanksgiving! Though I prefer fish ;-)

By: Katie Minkus, R(B)

Katie Minkus, R(B) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 04:30:43 +0000

We have flocks of wild turkeys in Puako – it’s a riot to watch the neighborhood animals, usually so fierce and protective about their territory, slink away in the face of these creatures! My friend Pete, who has lived in Puako for about 25 years now, says they wouldn’t be good eatin’ turkeys anyway – too grisly and tough! Not like our juicy, succulent (mmm…deep-fried)turkeys straight from KTA or Foodland on thanksgiving day… but I digress… gobble gobble.

By: Beth Thoma Robinson, R(S)

Beth Thoma Robinson, R(S) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 03:02:16 +0000

Mahalo, Pat, I have often wondered as I stopped to let a family of turkeys cross the road at Kohala Ranch or scared the flock that lives in the mac nut orchards where I take my daily run.