Re: Turkey Attack

Frederick W. Fallon (fwfallon@mnsinc.com)
Fri, 16 Apr 1999 15:22:59 -0700


This should go in a newsletter somewhere, it's so humorously written without
seeming to be trying to!
    Fred Fallon

Andy Rabin wrote:

> 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