Big birds at the feeders

The Common Grackles that empty our feeders during each fall migtration showed up Wednesday morning. Just half a dozen, but the flocks undoubtly are on their way. Joining them this morning were three Wild Turkeys. They were picking at spilled sunflower seed beneath the feeders. Our four tube feeders hang from pipe arms attached to the top of a 10-foot one-inch steel pipe. This is a squirrel-inspired setup. The turkeys first were a bit spooked by the comings and goings of the grackles, large black birds flying in and out just above turkey heads. Then one of the turkeys began to watch the grackles. I haven't seen evidence of turkey smarts, but this bird figured out where the seed was coming from. It flew to one of the feeder crossbars, struggling to balance on the thin arm of pipe while eyeing the feeder. If that bird could have figured out how to squeeze its 15 pounds onto a two-inch feeder perch it would have done it. I spread cracked corn beneath the feeders in the afternoon, to give the turkeys something else to think about should they return.