Nature, My Life as a Turkey
PBS Western Reserve (WNEO 45.1 / 49.1)
Wednesday, Nov. 26, at 8 PM
Thursday, Nov. 27, at 1 AM
When wildlife artist and naturalist Joe Hutto wants to “talk turkey,” he means it literally. Having spent more than a year as the full-time parent of a clutch of young turkeys, he learned much more than just how to speak their language. What started as an informal science experiment became a very personal, very emotional journey that ended up changing his life in ways he could never have imagined. Based on his true story, NATURE, MY LIFE AS A TURKEY recreates Hutto’s moving tale of raising wild turkey hatchlings in Florida’s Flatwoods.
Already possessing a broad background in the natural sciences, Joe Hutto had a life-long interest in and experience with “imprinting” young animals. Imprinting refers to that first moment of life when some creatures form an instant connection with the individual they forever recognize as their mother. It had long been Hutto’s hope to learn about the secret world of wild turkeys by having young chicks, called poults, imprint on him. When this rare opportunity came, he had no idea what kind of relentless task he was about to commit himself to.
He began speaking with them before they hatched and bonded with them as they emerged from their shells. He lived as a full-time turkey mother of 16 chicks. It was a role he would learn from scratch and leave him caught up in wonder. He could teach them little that they did not already know. It seemed they had much more to teach him. He learned their individual idiosyncrasies and voices, and became especially fond of two he named Sweet Pea, a snuggler, and Turkey Boy, the bold rascal of the bunch.
During their time together, Hutto dutifully cared for his charges around the clock, immersing himself in their world. In the process, they revealed their charming curiosity, survival instincts, and surprising intellect. Life was good. Eventually, things changed. His children grew up, and Hutto had to let them go off on their own. It was harder than he ever imagined.
