In the 1500s, Europeans found turkeys in Mexico, domesticated them back at home and then repatriated them to the United States when they settled in the new world.

America's big, bland national bird was prized by Pilgrims and it's still the main event at our annual feast of shared blessings and family feuds.

Ben Franklin's suggestion that the national bird be changed from the eagle to the turkey was largely ignored, as was his cooking advice. For an "uncommonly tender" turkey, he unkindly recommended electrocution.

Farm-raised turkeys may be too fat to fly, but lithe wild turkeys do just fine in the air.