Introducing: Wild Turkey Conservation
The trailer is officially out, and you can listen to it here.
I’ve got Niche to Meet You news, my people. The trailer is finally out for the Wild Turkey Miniseries (coming August 16th), and I can—AT LONG LAST—spill the beans on why the *gobble* I’ve been so overly excited about telling this story.
I’ve got over 30 gigs of audio with interviews and field recordings…and I can tell you, this project is going to blow your mind. Stay with me here.
Did you know that the Wild Turkey rescue effort is one of America's greatest conservation success stories? I didn’t.
Here are the facts:
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 million.
Crazy, right?
We might consider 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.
STAY WITH ME!!!!!!
In this four-part miniseries of Niche to Meet You, I want to tell you about the history and modern efforts of wild turkey conservation while meeting some folks who love it and immerse themselves in it. You’ll hear about the craziness of 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, I’ll even take you 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.
ARE YOU STILL WITH ME?!??! There’s one more thing:
We’ll also find that the Wild Turkey’s story is IMPORTANT.
It’s 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. I PROMISE.
There are interviews with biologists, archeologists, hunters, conservationists, conservatives, liberals….and in those interviews I’ve learned this:
Wild Turkey conservation matters.
The lessons we’ll find within it will help us connect some dots. From the roots of Native American environmentalism to the vibrant community of today, we explore how this majestic bird has shaped lives and landscapes through poetry, passion, and purpose.
Listen to the trailer here, would you? (OH - and come party with us on August 9th. Only a few more days to get a limited edition shirt, and space is limited. RESERVE YOUR SPOT.)