Re: Turkey Attack

Harry Fisher (fish8553@dpnet.net)
Mon, 05 May 1997 23:21:58 -0400


Hi All:

Frederick W. Fallon wrote:

> This should go in a newsletter somewhere,

Yes, I agree, to the extent that I have already contacted Bart; his piece will
debut in Cecil Bird Life, June edition.  It will give club members a taste for
the zany flavor of MD Osprey!! I think it`s great that folks feel free to write
in with these experiences.Leslie Fisher
Cecil County

> 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