We often joke that we'd be in big trouble if chickens were the same size as cows. Their living ancestors, the junglefowl of South Asia, emerged about 5 million years ago. Chickens at the sanctuary have all the same habits and desires.
Emu-like birds appeared in Australia 25 million years ago, and their modern form dates back at least 10 million years. They have survived two near-extinction events at the hands of humans.
The reptilian origins of dinosaurs, and therefore birds, are evident in Muscovy ducks, who hiss rather than quacking. With their scaly faces and head-feathers that they can raise threateningly, these ducks give off real dinosaur vibes.
Both wild and domestic turkeys inhabit VINE terrain, often gobbling back and forth across the fences. Turkey-like birds first appeared in our region 20 million years ago and co-evolved with the forests of New Englad.