Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Dan Lee's idea of a good time is a "kick in the head."
Of course he's not speaking literally. He's referring to Robert H. Kesler's yearly release of birds. Kesler, chairman of the board for Explorer Van Co. Division of Bodor Co., Warsaw, released approximately 130 birds to freedom Thursday in a cornfield near Explorer Van Co.
"It really is fun to watch them go," Lee said. "It's a kick in the head."
Lee said Kesler raises pheasants every year and releases them into the wild.
"Some of them, of course, don't make it," he said.
This year, Kesler had approximately 35 wild turkeys and more than 100 pheasants.
"This is the fourth year," Lee said, that Kesler has released birds to their freedom.
In Kesler's first year, he raised the birds at Explorer Van Co.
But that's a "little difficult" with so many birds, Lee said.
"It was just too hard for him (Kesler) going back and forth (to take care of the birds)," Lee said. "It was just too many for what he had to deal with."
Lee said Kesler released 500 pheasants last year.
The pheasants are "typical ring-neck pheasants," he said.
Last year he tried raising half Manchurian pheasants, which Lee explained are a type of oriental breed.
"They're (pheasants) so sensitive to weather and temperature changes that we only released about 325 altogether," he said.
"This is the first year that he (Kesler) has tried wild turkeys," Lee said. "It really is a kick."
He said Kesler "was only able to get 30 wild turkeys."
But where are this many birds raised and who has the time to take care of them?
Tammi Mazura, South Whitley, raises the birds for Kesler.
Lee said Mazura charges per bird depending on the variety of birds and where they were purchased.
Lee said the birds are purchased from a hatchery, "just like you would get chickens."
"There are lots of places you can get them," Lee said, "(and) cost is approximately 90 cents apiece. They're not very expensive at all."
Lee also said Kesler purchases and releases birds as part of his love for wildlife.
"He (Kesler) is very, very interested in wildlife and preserving wildlife, wetlands and natural habitat," Lee said.
Lee also said the wild turkeys people may see walking around "are all a result of the release (by Kesler) into the area.
"There's still some wild turkeys around, but not many," Lee said.
He said he isn't sure if anyone else in the county was releasing these birds, but "if they're doing it, they don't do it in the quantity that (Kesler) does."
"It's just a lot of fun," Lee said. "(And) it's not an expensive project at all."
Lee said almost anyone can do it as long as there is a place to raise the birds, like a barn.
"It would be very easy to raise chicks and release (them) every year," Lee said.
The birds eat grain feed, a little bit like chicken feed, although not the same.
He also said Mazura keeps the birds "for about two months and then they're (shipped back to Kesler) and he releases them," Lee said.
The birds are released in a cornfield owned by Kesler off Fox Farm Road near Explorer Van.
"It's kind of interesting," Lee said. "He'll (Kesler) do this again next year."
"It's too bad a lot more people don't do this," Lee said. "It's a good thing to do (and) it's really fun.
"I'm just one of the guys," Lee said, "just one of the people (helping out.)"
Others who help with the yearly release of birds are employees Betty Stiver, Chris Graber and Kesler's grandson, Scott Wagner.
"We're all involved," Lee said. "It's a good time."
