Something cool happened to me while scouting a location for a new cache. I was on an island (Lake Lanier) and had just found a good hiding spot. I was standing there while the GPSr was averaging a waypoint when I heard..."cluck". It was faint and didn't really register at first. Then I heard another, and another. The clucks were getting louder.

Pretty soon I saw movement as a large hen turkey walked in. It slowly walked and fed and clucked past me at about 20 yards. I stayed motionless and it just passed on through.

I've seen plenty of wildlife on these islands. Saw several deer on this island today too. But this was my first island turkey! Funny how cache names just sort of jump out at you sometimes! Anyway, that's my geocaching story for today.

- WakeboardLanier

That's pretty cool! I wouldn't have thought turkey's would end up on an island in the lake! We see 'em alot going down Price Rd. toward Dawsonville in a big pasture on the right ( nice house in the distance and a small pond in the bottom of the valley there) - but I never would have thought they'd make their way to an island. I wonder if it's a resident population, or if they flew over? Can turkeys swim? I know it's no problem for a deer to swim a good distance across a lake....maybe the turkey's just know that Thanksgiving is coming soon!? lol

quote:

We see 'em alot going down Price Rd. toward Dawsonville in a big pasture on the right

I've seen that flock too!

I think they are residents of the islands. Perfect predator-free habitat I suspect. I've done quite a bit of hiking around on several of the islands on the north side. And I frequently see large areas of ground that they've scratched almost bare looking for food.

First time I've actually seen one on an island was that time I described in my post. Since then my boy and I have seen others on that same island. BTW, here's the cache I was hiding: Galliformes. Go get it!

Alas, right now I'd have to swim for it. I am planning to get myself involved with a canoe or fishing kayak by next spring though. Then, then I can chase down some of your water-bound teasers!

Most likely during the draught it made it's way over. Not quite how far from shore your island is WB-L... But that would be my best guess. I don't believe turkeys fly more than short bursts. But hey, I didn't think deer would swim island to island, but they do. Weird... but definitely cool.