“My Life as a Turkey” (featured video)
9-15-11
Submitted by Susan Grimes
John,
I’m sharing this video with you in hopes you will share it with others. Please wait to view it with a cup of coffee and perhaps a friend since it is lengthy but worth the time to watch each and every frame. Maybe you already know of this fellow North Florida resident, I did not but he has brought me to an even greater appreciation of how lucky we are to live up here.
I’ve included a short bio
Joe Hutto
Joe Hutto is a professional naturalist and wildlife artist. His book, Illumination in the Flatwoods; A Season with the Wild Turkey, is a collection of journal entries and drawings as a result of his experience one summer raising a flock of imprinted wild turkeys in the flatwoods of north Florida, while trying to understand their biology. Originally from Tallahassee, Joe started drawing and doing art since he was a child. As a young man, he learned to train horses and rope and cut cattle. He started his studies in wildlife biology, but switched to get a degree in anthropology from FSU. He worked as a field archeologist for the department of state for 10 years, then moved to Wyoming in 1979, where he managed a 60 thousand acre cattle ranch. He began spending time back in North Florida in 1985 and has continued to live between Sopchoppy where he is building a home, and Wyoming where he is conducting a study of Big Horn Sheep. Joe designed the Florida Wild Turkey Stamp in 1990.
It is not often that you see a wildlife video this unique and of such high quality as this one filmed by the BBC. If you have any interest in wild turkeys, if you are of Florida Cracker heritage, if you enjoy wildlife and Florida’s great outdoors then you ought to see the subject story at the following website. I am confident that you will find it very rewarding. Special note: This video does not appear to work on mobile devices. You must view from a desktop of lap top computer. Regards -DC
Thank you so much for giving us this amazing look into the life of these intelligent birds. Nature is so sweet and so cruel. Perhaps it is time for us humans to emulate more of this behavior up to a point.
The trust especially of Sweet Pea, this cuddly creature, is unbelievable to watch. She reminds me of our cat Lucy. I had no idea this film would entail all this and I have learned a lot I will not forget and take it with me in my life/lessons.
Again.. THANK YOU! -Jeanine
I just watched this program for the second time and was just as amazed and taken with this viewing as at first. This intelligent man is a kind and gentle spirit, obviously a loner and person of great perception and thought, walking through the wilds with only learning and sharing in mind. Truly a work of patience and attention. I’d like to thank Mr. Hutto for sharing his joys, sorrows and understanding with those of us that will never have such a marvelous opportunity and more so would not know what to do with it if we had. Thank you.
That video was incredible. It showed so much in such little time.
I watched it once, and then again with my children.
I will suggest they show this to the students of Madison County.
I hope all of the residents in Madison will enjoy!
Joe is an old friend. Have not seen him in a couple of years, but cherish the time I have spent with him in the woods and at his little “hut” which is shown in this outstanding film.
I would be remiss if I did not note that this film was made possible by the efforts of a fellow Madison County resident J. B. Davis, RIP, who served on the Fla Game and Fish Commission over three decades ago and pushed for the reestablishment of the wild turkey in the environs of North Florida. Anyone who spends time in the woods of Madison County can attest to the success of this program.
Thanks for sharing.
That video was fantastic!
I absolutely enjoyed watching this video…it was amazing. Thank you for sharing.