Bart, Great story! One question- How did you celebrate Thanksgiving this past November? Andy Rabin andyrab@wam.umd.edu -----Original Message----- From: Bart Hutchinson <2210E@extrusion.ih.navy.mil> To: MDOsprey@ARI.Net <MDOsprey@ARI.Net> Date: Friday, April 16, 1999 11:23 AM Subject: Turkey Attack >I was birding at work this morning and checking out a stand of trees >that earlier in the week hosted at least 10 Palm Warblers (that was >quite a sight, but that's another story). This morning it was pretty >quiet, so I was just standing there waiting for something to happen >when I saw a Wild Turkey come out of the woods. It was heading >towards me so I just stayed still - I thought maybe it didn't see me >or thought I was a pole or tree or something. The bird kept walking >closer and closer until it was only 3 feet away. I now realized that >he did in fact see me. > >It then started bobbing it's head back and forth at me and came even >closer. At this point I started fearing for my life. I began >backing away but the turkey kept following me and occasionally >throwing it's head and neck out at me. I tried to scare it by >raising my arms and waving them and yelling while walking towards it. >The bird was not phased. Much like the Energizer bunny, it kept >coming and coming. Now it was his turn to step up the attack - he >jumped into the air and swung it's wing at me. While it didn't hit >me, it came close enough that I could have grabbed it if was a little >more brave or more stupid. > >We went back and forth like this for a minute or two - me running at >it and the bird jumping up and trying to hit me with his wing. I >guess he realized that I was pretty wimpy because it again became >more agressive and ran right at me! I started running and it >followed. I ran around a utility pole and it followed - it was crazy >- I was being chased around a pole by a turkey! I began laughing at >the absurdity of the situation, but I still kept running. >Eventually, the turkey gave up and went his own way - I guess he >figured I wasn't much of a threat. > >Other birds of intrest: > >Bobwhite - 2 >Sharpshin - 2 >Coopers - possible >N. Parula - 3 - probably more. I heard a lot of singing >Prairie - 1 heard >Pine - 2 seen, many heard >Palm - 1 > >Safe in my office, >Bart