Clear, cold and who decided to protect wild turkeys in the U.S.

Good morning Augusta.

This morning it is clear with a High of 34F and a windchill as low as 14F. Winds from the NW at 10 to 15 mph.

Tonight it will be partly cloudy with a Low of 25F. Winds from the SW at 5 to 10 mph.

The readings from my own instruments are:

The humidity is 63% with a Dew Point of 11ºF and a wind chill of 11.9ºF.

The temperature Is 24.1ºF.

We have West Winds between 8.2 MPH and 12.3 MPH.

Our Barometric pressure is 30.51 HPA 1022 and rising with a weather graphic indicating sun.   

We have a UV  rating of 0 out of 16, sunset will be at 4:13 PM with Moon Rise at 2:06 p.m. EST and the moon phase is   waxing Gibbous.

For the pilots out there, Raw Metar readings are:

METAR KAUG 131153Z AUTO 29005KT 10SM CLR M06/M12 A3017 RMK AO2 SLP222 T10561117 11033 21056 51022

Visibility is 10.0 miles/16.1 Kilometers with a good clear ceiling up here.

We have had no rain here in the past 24 hours.

Thanksgiving Turkey History

Roosevelt tried to change the date of Thanksgiving

By Peggy Trowbridge Filippone

The wild turkey (Meleagris gallopa) is native to North America and was a staple in the Native American diet. It was imported to Europe in the early part of the 16th century by the Spaniards via Turkey (the country.) It was confused in those early times with the Guinea fowl which also arrived via Turkey, and both birds were called turkeys in those days. When it was assigned its latin name in the 18th century, the name turkey still stuck. Native Americans called it peru with no reference to the country of the same name.

Turkey was introduced to the early Pilgrim settlers by the Native American Wampanoag tribe after the Pilgrims arrived in 1620. The first year for the settlers was bleak, with many dying from the journey. Their seeds, aside from barley, did not produce any usable crops. The Indians assisted the settlers, introducing them to native foods such as corn and squash and showed them how to hunt and fish. The first Thanksgiving was celebrated in 1621 at the behest of Governor William Bradford, and the Native Americans were invited guests of honor.

Thanksgiving became an official holiday in the United States on October 3, 1863 via proclamation issued by President Abraham Lincoln. This was largely due to the lobbying efforts of Sarah Josepha Hale, editor of Godey's Lady's Magazine who had lobbied for 17 years for the holiday. The proclamation declared the last Thursday in November as Thanksgiving Day.

By 1916, Thanksgiving was referred to in writings as Turkey Day due to the popularity of the bird at the traditional feast.

Interestingly enough, in 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt attempted to move the official Thanksgiving date to earlier in November in order encourage a longer Christmas shopping season as a Depression recovery strategy. His idea was shut down by Congress, and the official date was declared permanently as the fourth Thursday in November via Public Law #379.

The popularity of wild turkeys nearly wiped them out. The federal government stepped in with protection in 1991, and they are now found in 49 states. (Blogger's note:AHA! so its the Feds who are to blame for our turkey infestation!) 

Turkey was most-associated with Thanksgiving and Christmas, making winter the prime season for turkey farmers. In 1935, the per capita consumption of turkey was only 1.7 pounds.

Today, turkey has been recognized as a lean substitute for red meat. Aggressive marketing by turkey farmers by advertising and availability of parts rather than the necessity of cooking a whole bird has increased consumption to 20 pounds per person per year, with 74 percent of the consumption being in sliced turkey sandwiches.

And, of course, who can resist drying the wishbone from the breast of the turkey to make a wish?

And, of course, who can resist drying the wishbone from the breast of the turkey to make a wish?