POLITICAL ORNITHOLOGY

By Alain L. Sanders

Each Thanksgiving the National Turkey Federation presents a turkey to the President. The tale behind this year's bird:

MAY: Some 2,000 turkey poults hatch at the Tar Heel Turkey Hatchery in Raeford, N.C.

SEPTEMBER: At 16 weeks, 10 candidates are selected--all toms (or males), because they're bigger. Criteria: size, feathers, posture, temperament. The last is not insignificant: the 1984 turkey flapped its wings in President Reagan's face.

OCTOBER: At 22 weeks, another primary. Four birds make it.

NOVEMBER 20: The National Thanksgiving Turkey is chosen. And so is a runner-up--to serve by waiting (just like Al Gore), in case anything happens to No. 1.

NOVEMBER 25: The National Turkey and the runner-up are flown to the capital and whisked to the Hotel Washington, left, where all Top Turkeys have stayed for the past 30 years. They spend the night next to the rooftop summer kitchen. Great view of the White House.

NOVEMBER 26: The big day. The National Thanksgiving Turkey is escorted to the Rose Garden for the presidential ceremony and the ritual dinner pardon.

EPILOGUE: The two turkeys are taken to their retirement shed at a model farm in a Virginia park, to share quarters and two meals a day and keep company with last year's birds (the only ex-Top Toms still living)

--By Alain L. Sanders