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John Hollenhorst ReportingThere were a lot of ruffled feathers in Magna today -- turkey feathers! A lot of turkeys and a whole bunch of kids. They had a great time liberating about four dozen birds just in time for Thanksgiving.
It's hard to say which side was more eager; the schoolkids with feathers in their caps or their feathered friends, rocking their boxes from the inside out. They all sat a bit impatiently through a few speeches.
James Earl Kennamer, National Wild Turkey Federation: "For those early settlers, wild turkey hunting was a matter of survival."
But then it was time to bring 'em out, just in time for Thanksgiving, almost four dozen wild turkeys. The kids got to pet them, and some of the lucky ones got to hold them; well, at leats they tried.
After a little turkey tomfoolery, Steven Pixton got to let one go.
"All right, one, Two! Three!!! Now, you can turn her loose. hah, hah. Flap flap."
And then it was turkey after turkey flying this way and that.
Taeler Gannuscia, Daybreak Elementary: "Normally turkeys don't look that beautiful. They just, like, have lots of feathers."
They were headed for new homes on Kennecott property in the Oquirrh Mountains.
Rachel Coy, Daybreak Elementary: "I think they're cool. They look like giant chickens."
These birds have a pretty good chance of surviving Thanksgiving because hunting is illegal this time of year. The releases are opening up new habitat on Kennecott land for a species that's making a big comeback.
Jim Karpowitz, Director, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources: "They're doing very well in Utah. Some places too well. In fact, these birds today were trapped in Utah where we have a few too many."
Once there were fewer than a thousand in the state. Now there are nearly 18,000, plus 46. The comeback of the wild turkey is due largely to transplant programs that brought birds to Utah from other states. That effort has been funded primarily by hunters.
