Turkeys - Who Are They?: A Visual Lecture & Book Signing by Karen Davis, Ph.D.

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Nov 08, 2013, 10:30 ET

MACHIPONGO, Va., Nov. 8, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The turkey is America's unofficial national bird, yet many are unfamiliar with the fascinating nature and intelligence of turkeys. Karen Davis, president and founder of United Poultry Concerns, will give a visual talk about turkeys on Tuesday, November 26 from 7-8 p.m. at the Harlow Gallery, located at 160 Water Street in Hallowell, Maine.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131108/DC13012-a)

Karen Davis and Florence the Turkey (2000-2006). Photo by John H. Sheally, The Virginian-Pilot, November 25, 2004 (Thanksgiving Day). (PRNewsFoto/United Poultry Concerns) (PRNewsFoto/UNITED POULTRY CONCERNS)

This family of wild turkeys shares the land with Gay Bradshaw and Jeff Borchers in Jacksonville, Oregon. Photo by Jeff Borchers, The Kerulos Center, 2013. (PRNewsFoto/United Poultry Concerns) (PRNewsFoto/UNITED POULTRY CONCERNS)

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131108/DC13012-b)

Karen will relate her personal stories about the turkeys at her sanctuary in Virginia, and describe what she learned about turkeys in the course of writing her book More Than a Meal: The Turkey in History, Myth, Ritual, and Reality. Why is the turkey called a "turkey?" Was President Truman the first U.S. President to "pardon" a turkey at the White House? How far will a mother turkey go to protect her young? Can turkeys swim as well as walk, fly and run? Just who are these mysterious birds and why do they matter?

Karen Davis's presentation is part of a holiday program hosted by the Harlow Gallery featuring artist Cheryl L. Miller's 46millionturkeys exhibition of her beautiful and haunting portraits of turkeys, on display during the week of Thanksgiving, November 25-30, 2013. www.46millionturkeys.com

"I never thought when I was growing up in a Pennsylvania railroad town that I would one day be a passionate scholar-advocate for turkeys, both personally and professionally," says Davis. "I invite people to join me at the Harlow Gallery on Tuesday evening, November 26 from 7-8 p.m., for a revealing look at these amazing birds."

KAREN DAVIS, Ph.D. is the president and founder of United Poultry Concerns, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the compassionate and respectful treatment of domestic fowl. She's the editor of UPC's quarterly magazine Poultry Press and the author of several books including More Than a Meal: The Turkey in History, Myth, Ritual, and Reality, Prisoned Chickens, Poisoned Eggs: An Inside Look at the Modern Poultry Industry, and A Home For Henny, a book for children of all ages. For more information about Karen Davis, go to http://upc-online.org/karenbio.htm.

SOURCE United Poultry Concerns