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Re: Wild turkey sighting in Rock Creek Park

From:

Michael Bowen

Reply-To:

Michael Bowen

Date:

Fri, 24 Aug 2007 17:51:34 -0400

Phil, Steve et al:

I have only seen Wild Turkey once in the District of Columbia.  That 
was on May 29, 2005, in Anacostia Park, in the area often known as 
the "Anacostia Wetlands," adjacent to the old NPS nursery (and close 
to where the new soccer stadium for DC United may or may not be built!).

My sighting notes indicate that this bird -- a male -- was probably 
the same individual as seen the previous day in the same location by 
Rob Hilton and Paul Pisano.  In fact, either Rob or Paul, or possibly 
both of them, had telephoned me on the 28th, which is why I went 
looking on the 29th.

I also recall someone in the last five years or so reporting a Turkey 
sighting from Theodore Roosevelt Island across from the Kennedy 
Center, but cannot find chapter and verse on this.

Mike Bowen
Bethesda, MD



At 05:31 PM 8/24/2007 -0400, you wrote:
>Hi Steve:
>
>Since MD DNR reintroduced Wild Turkey from the western part of the 
>state to all other counties, they have become rather plentiful in 
>the last 10-15 years. I'm not as familiar with their status in DC. 
>I'll copy on this message some of the avid DC "listers" ... they may 
>be interested in trying to refind this bird for their DC lists.
>
>Thanks for the report.
>
>Phil
>
>
>At 14:17 08/24/2007, you wrote:
>>Hello,
>>
>>I am 54 years old and grew up in the Annapolis area.  I currently 
>>live in Silver Spring and have always spent a lot of time in 
>>outdoor activities; camping, hiking and golfing.  I had never seen 
>>a wild turkey in my life until yesterday.  While playing golf at 
>>the Rock Creek Park Golf Course at 16 th and Rittenhouse Rd. N.W. I 
>>saw one for the first time and couldn't believe it.  This was no 
>>turkey buzzard.  He came out of a thicket located in back of the 
>>11th tee and when I tried to get a better look after hitting my 
>>shot, he had disappeared.
>>
>>The golf course is in very bad shape now and the course gets very 
>>little play (all the greens have been closed).  This makes for 
>>ideal bird and wildlife watching as some of the outlying holes are 
>>far away from roads and human activity.  What was lost in the 
>>golfing experience what more than made up for by seeing this 
>>beautiful creature.  I went back to the clubhouse after completing 
>>my round and asked if they had ever seen any wild turkeys on or 
>>near the course.  They said yes of course, there's a family of them 
>>and they have actually been seen near the clubhouse!
>>
>>I hope this posting is of interest.  Please respond back with any 
>>comments you may have.   I have copied my brother (Charles 
>>Stegman)  who is involved w/ M.O.S. and has participated in species 
>>counts in the Salisbury, Maryland area.  Thank you, Steve Stegman
>
>===================================================
>Phil Davis, Secretary
>MD/DC Records Committee
>2549 Vale Court
>Davidsonville, Maryland  21035     USA
>301-261-0184
>mailto:[log in to unmask]
>
>MD/DCRC Web site:  http://www.MDBirds.org/mddcrc/rcindex.html
>===================================================

D.H. Michael Bowen
8609 Ewing Drive
Bethesda, MD  20817
Telephone: (301) 530-5764
e-mail:  dhmbowenATyahooDOTcom