Happy Thanksgiving!

By Mary Lynn Stephenson (Collection of Mary Lynn Stephenson) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
By Mary Lynn Stephenson (Collection of Mary Lynn Stephenson), via Wikimedia Commons
Benjamin Franklin wanted the Wild Turkey to be the national bird of the USA instead of the actual choice of the Bald Eagle.  He wrote to his daughter thus:

“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 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.”

By Ken Thomas (KenThomas.us (personal website of photographer)) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
By Ken Thomas (KenThomas.us (personal website of photographer)), via Wikimedia Commons
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15 Replies to “Happy Thanksgiving!”

  1. Mark,
    Off subject but can you tell me which grousemoors caused Bristol to flood?
    Not a grouse shooter myself but if grouse moors cause flooding then which one would have caused this?

    1. Of course it is not just the management of grouse moors which lead to flooding but also current farming practices in general. I was thinking particularly of maize production and deforestation of watersheds.

    2. It’s the sport of burning cars for fun on Dundry Hill what does it. Or it could be some nosy zoologist in a kayak stuck in a culvert.

      1. Flooding in Bristol has been inevitable since the Unitarian Church in St Pauls announced in September that it would be offering same sex marriage ceremonies. Common sense innit..

  2. Wow ! I wonder how many of our politicians (Ken Clarke certainly !) could give such a thorough account of the habits of eg the (European) Robin ! I especially liked the bit about the Kingbird driving a Bald eagle out of its territory.

  3. Surely Franklin’s description of the Bald Eagle makes it an apt symbol of the US state, given it’s foreign policy.

  4. Did you the Turkey is to blame for TV dinners. The Swanson company had so many left over turkies after Thanksgiving it placed the in tin foil trays with spuds and sold them

  5. It is off subject mark but I asked to see if you had an answer because I was wondering what you thought. Is it grousemoors or is it more rain? If Bristol floods and it’s not because of moors then why are other areas flooding because of them? Just trying to make my own mind up on the point in question. Only then will I know the truth.

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