Re: Turkey Attack
William Leigh (tern@visuallink.com)
Fri, 16 Apr 1999 17:28:17 -0700
Very funny story ....amazing!. I was attacked by a Ruff Grouse once who was
trying to protect a wayward fledgling that froze in the middle of the
trail. She flew right a my feet with her head lowered to the ground. It was
quite the adrenaline rush. However, she only attacked once and then
quickly escorted her Rufflet ( we are allowed one neologism per message
right?) to safety.
William
-----Original Message-----
From: Frederick W. Fallon <fwfallon@mnsinc.com>
To: mdosprey@ARI.Net <mdosprey@ARI.Net>
Date: Friday, April 16, 1999 1:51 PM
Subject: Re: Turkey Attack
>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
>
>