Wild Turkey Conservation
A 4-part mini-series about the weird, wonderful Wild Turkey and the effort to conserve it.
It’s an important story about mending seemingly irreparable gaps and changing the world.
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The Wild Turkey rescue effort is one of America's greatest conservation success stories.
Estimations of Wild Turkey populations in the 1400s are around 30 million.
In the mid 1900s, there were only around 1.2 million turkeys left in the US.
Today, there are over 6.25 million.
Wild turkeys are iconic symbols of American tradition. Founding fathers talk about the bird as a symbol of our nation, and the bird’s presence in our celebrations harken back to the early foundations of the America as we understand it today.
But for some, wild turkeys are more than just a festive image. The bird can represent an elusive challenge—a symbol of a deep connection to nature and tradition as hunters go out in the dark of morning to find the bird. This pursuit has spawned a unique subculture providing purpose and belonging, with its own gatherings, industries, and even celebrities…but it’s not as simplistic as you might think. There’s more to the story than just hunting.
In this four-part miniseries of Niche to Meet You, we learn the history and modern efforts of wild turkey conservation while meeting some folks who love it and immerse themselves in it. We’ll hear calling competitions, listen to stories, and discover from biologists how the preservation of the Wild Turkey is of extreme importance to our environment. To experience firsthand the thrill of finding a turkey in the wild, Leslie will take us on a hunt with a lifelong turkey enthusiast (and viral turkey caller), as he gives us the thrill of hearing that first gobble in the Tennessee woods.
We’ll also find that the Wild Turkey’s story is providing an example of ways seemingly opposing forces are coming together over a common goal—and putting their money and actions where their mouth is. The wild turkey conservation story isn’t just about hunting…it’s about more than that, it’s about mending seemingly irreparable gaps and changing the world. And it will surprise you.
In this miniseries we feature voices that all interact with the wild turkey: Biologists, hunters, archeologists, professors, authors, farmers, liberals, conservatives, Native Americans, midwesterners, southerners, northerners…and what we learn is:
Wild Turkey conservation matters.
The lessons we’ll find within it will help us connect some dot as we explore how this majestic bird has shaped lives and landscapes through passion, poetry, and purpose.
MINI-SERIES EPISODES
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ABOUT NICHE TO MEET YOU
The statistics on loneliness are shocking. The US Surgeon General released a report in 2023 about the importance of social interaction to curb the loneliness and isolation epidemic. The report says that even before COVID, approximately half of U.S. adults reported experiencing measurable levels of loneliness. Dr. Vivek Murthy is even going so far as to develop an entire national campaign to encourage social interaction to save humanity. Hobbies will literally save our lives.
AND, hobbies help us better understand each other.
The little things that construct meaning and purpose for us don’t just provide health benefits, they remind us that we are all part of a larger whole. When we learn more about other people’s unique interests we better appreciate the world around us and we can embrace and celebrate our differences. We find belonging in a sea of loneliness.
We are all a little miss-fit, but the statistics are undeniable: We need to find ways to connect with others.
The Niche to Meet You podcast, hosted by Leslie Thompson, profiles hobbies and niche subcultures where misfits are finding home through mini-series and individual interviews. Learn more about Leslie and the show here.
