2: 1. The Wild Turkey and the Bald Eagle: Symbolism and History AUTHOR: Stephen Moss BOOK TITLE: 10 Birds That Changed the World This excerpt introduces the book and discusses the Wild Turkey, noting its reestablishment in New England and its domestication i
The John Batchelor Show
John Batchelor
4.5 • 2.8K Ratings
🗓️ 13 October 2025
⏱️ 12 minutes
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Summary
1. The Wild Turkey and the Bald Eagle: Symbolism and History
BOOK TITLE: 10 Birds That Changed the World
This excerpt introduces the book and discusses the Wild Turkey, noting its reestablishment in New England and its domestication in prehistory, originating from southern Mexico. It explores the non-logical naming of the turkey, likely confused with exotic trade items like the guinea fowl. The conversation shifts to the Bald Eagle, discussing its scavenging habits, Benjamin Franklin's potential joking preference for the turkey as the national bird, and the eagle's historical representation of power and sinister forces.
1949
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| 0:23.6 | This is CBS Eye on the World with John Batchelor. |
| 0:28.1 | Here's John Batchelor. |
| 0:30.5 | The Wild Turkey, one of 10 birds featured in a new book I highly recommend for Thanksgiving |
| 0:36.5 | and any other time of the year. |
| 0:38.9 | Ten birds that change the world. |
| 0:41.4 | Stephen Moss is the author, a distinguished author, an environmentalist, |
| 0:46.5 | television producer for the BBC Natural History Unit, and here to take us to the legend and the facts of the wild turkey. |
| 0:55.3 | Stephen, a very good evening to your book is a joy, and we're going to follow you through |
| 1:00.1 | history and across the continents. |
| 1:02.2 | But we begin with the wild turkey because I am familiar here in New England. |
| 1:07.7 | The wild turkey has reestablished itself. |
| 1:10.3 | You have some wonderful numbers to say how |
| 1:12.6 | it's come back with protection and habitat being protected in some fashion. The wild turkey |
| 1:19.6 | was discovered when Europeans came to America. The wild turkey certainly is a much more capable than given credit. It's 2.5 to 5.4 |
| 1:32.0 | kilograms and it lives in mixed forests. What did Europe make of the wild turkey when it first |
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