A mama turkey and her 15 poults (chicks) were spotted in a backyard on Walnut and another mom and her babies on Frankin Avenue yesterday. Wild turkeys have staged a comeback in NJ since they were wiped out in the 1800's. Due to their adaptable nature and prolific breeding ability, they have thrived in NJ since the 1980's. They love sizable oak forests - and we have plenty - or patches of forest interspersed with suburbs. Males, or toms, are polygamous and often mate with several hens during the breeding season who can lay up to 17 eggs and may have multiple broods.