I’m not sure why it is, but birds seem to take a liking to me. First it was the sparrows, then the pigeons and then cardinals. And, let’s not forget about the hawk that takes up residence on my fire escape outside the kitchen window.
Well, for the last few weeks, it seems that my early morning inner city commute has taken on a more…barnyard experience. We have wild turkeys taking over my little corner of the city. Two male and one female.
Pretty colors on her feathers. (I’m only guessing it’s a female. I’m a little too "street" to know for sure.)
And this is the gay male couple she hangs around with. I’ve taken to calling them Chet and Chuck.
And, to prove I wasn’t taking photos at a farm, this is my bus stop with the three turkeys pecking around it.
And, to prove that’s a bus stop, here’s the bus with two of the little fellows trying to get a free ride. It didn’t work, they’ll have to just fly because NO ONE rides for free in Boston. NO ONE. Not even a turkey.
So, off they waddled. Or whatever it is that turkeys do when they leave. And, with total disregard to the early morning traffic, they stepped right out into the street. Of course, the cross walk was only a few feet further over, but they’re above the law.
Another day, the two male turkeys began chasing this young guy up the street as he was walking to work.
But, my favorite day was when it was pouring out. As I’m heading to the bus shelter to get out of the rain, these two guys came RUNNING over to me to join me in the bus shelter!
So, I just sat there talking to them and taking their photos.
They really are ugly creatures.
And they can get kind of indignant when you point out how it looks like they have tumor thingies all over their heads.
Luckily for me, the bus finally arrived and I went to work. But, they’re still out there, the three of them. Every morning. This morning they were chasing after a rather huge gentleman, and making all sorts of gobble sounds. And he began to run, with them chasing after him! Oh, it was a priceless moment. Everyone on the street was laughing as this guy was tearing off down the street, with two huge turkeys chasing after him!
City living. It has it’s dangers.
Edited to add: Frequently asked questions about wild turkeys by MassWildlife.
Mel
I think they’re beautiful if you take the time to look at all the variations in their colors. I think you should come up with a “wild turkey” colorway.
Jul 03, 2009 @ 12:39 am
anne marie in philly
and to think ben franklin wanted this creature to be our national symbol!
too funny, dave! a great post!
have a great holiday weekend!
Jul 03, 2009 @ 1:33 am
jackie
I wonder where they came from. I like that you chatted with them until your bus came. Probably confused the hell out of them.
Jul 03, 2009 @ 4:36 am
Lynn
Heh. And to think they were gone entirely from this state not that long ago. Scroll down a bit on this page to read about how they were re-introduced to the state:
http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/wildlife/facts/birds/turkey/turkey_faqs.htm
Jul 03, 2009 @ 5:43 am
Devorah
Reminds me of the turkeys who guilted my brother-in-law into becoming vegetarian.
Thanks for the smile!
Jul 03, 2009 @ 6:11 am
skimpysmom
this is cool. especially in the city.wild turkeys are usually pretty shy.as you might know we have a handraised wild pet turkey “Toby” aka “Thanksgiving roast” (just kidding).He is also very territorial, he tries to chase everybody out of our yard except hubster and me.and people say citylife is devoid of wildlife.i think not.hawk on the
fire escape and turkeys in the street.cool.
Jul 03, 2009 @ 6:30 am
holli
I don’t know, Dave. I haven’t spent much time in Boston, but after reading your blog for awhile, it seems like a pretty strange place. You got some great pictures (classic ugly is beautiful beasts that they are). Hope they manage to find their way home, they would seem to be the quintessential out of towners. Have a great 4th!
Jul 03, 2009 @ 6:51 am
Mary K. in Rockport
We are beset with wild turkeys in Rockport. There are homes where the mail carrier can’t go anymore since the toms developed a dislike for him. They stand in the road and attack cars. Somehow they look much bigger when they rear up high on their legs and spread their tail feathers.
Jul 03, 2009 @ 7:28 am
Cindy
There is a good reason why they didn’t get the vote for National bird………
Jul 03, 2009 @ 7:50 am
Jessica
It’s definitely two males and one female.. I see them every day on my way to lab… I like Chet and Chuck! I also love the awkward fuzzy adolescent geese scattered around the park (I really wish they wouldn’t all try to cross the road in front of the bus!)
Jul 03, 2009 @ 8:14 am
Life Looms Large
You’re only laughing because you haven’t been chased by a wild turkey yet!!! They can be a little scary when they’re after you!!
Sue
Jul 03, 2009 @ 8:20 am
Kathie K
I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it!
What’s next- moose?
Jul 03, 2009 @ 8:34 am
Roxie
The feathers ARE awesome! Wonder when they molt? I’ve been picking up goose feathers lately.
Chet and Chuck – how about Chelsea for their ladyfriend? I think it’s pretty neat that you have half-tame turkeys in the city. Next thing you know, the coyote’s will get them.
Jul 03, 2009 @ 9:26 am
Cheryl (btpsmom)
Chet and Chuck! LOL! Maybe the female is the mom? I love that they seem to like you. Maybe you are the “bird whisperer”.
Jul 03, 2009 @ 9:40 am
Heide
I’ve got the giggles now as I imagine the turkeys chasing after Armini w/briefcase. Having grown up with various poultry I know that if you confront them that turkeys will turn tail and run… roosters, not so much. They’re mean little suckers. I wonder how they came to be in Boston and what they do in the winter. Thank you for the delightful pictures. I really, really want to go to Boston.
Jul 03, 2009 @ 9:53 am
Chris
Who woulda thunk it?! Yowza.
Now don’t forget that Benjamin Franklin wanted to make them our national symbol.
Jul 03, 2009 @ 10:04 am
Heidi
Hahahaha! Emailing you photos of yesterday’s visitors…
Jul 03, 2009 @ 10:07 am
Andrea
There was always a male wild turkey hanging around in Kendall Square when I lived close by. I never got as good a photo as you have, however (eh, I’ve got a cheapish Kodak EasyShare, so what can you do?).
I think their colors are absolutely stunning, but the warts give them an ugliness. Don’t tell my husband I said that though — he loves them.
Jul 03, 2009 @ 10:15 am
Leslie
Do you think they escaped from The State House? God(dess) knows there are many elected turkeys there — or maybe they’re refugess after the Ethics bill was passed.
Some of my friends here in New Salem feed them – H rings the bell and they come running from all over the woods.
Jul 03, 2009 @ 10:26 am
Ginger
Oh, heavens! Maybe those people looked at the toms wrong and were chased, or they didn’t talk nice to them like you did. Watch for the turkey feathers to put in a hat band! That last phot gives rise to another colorway for you, doncha think?
Wild turkey comes in a bottle to be drunk neat, or hunted. Been there, done that.
Jul 03, 2009 @ 10:35 am
Debe
Birds eh, need to look that up in the Animal Speaks book. Maybe some kind of bird is your Totem and that is why they are all attracted to you.
I think the others are right, you have some great colours there.
Jul 03, 2009 @ 3:08 pm
Judi
Not very handsome for sure but they do have a sort of dignitiy about them that is rather impressive.
Jul 03, 2009 @ 4:16 pm
jessica~
This post made me laugh over and over!! They’re taking over the city!! So you sat with them in the bus stop?? Did they get frisky with you?
Jul 03, 2009 @ 5:38 pm
Sara
Loved this post – and it sort of made me glad that you were kind to them and talked to them…
They are sort of ugly in the face – but, their feathers are gorgeous!
Jul 03, 2009 @ 6:52 pm
Karen
That’s so funny! I would have loved to have seen that!
Jul 03, 2009 @ 7:48 pm
Heide
P.S. These are female turkeys so maybe you should rename them Charlene and Cheri.
Jul 03, 2009 @ 8:14 pm
Brigitte
I’m so glad we don’t have wild turkeys in Vienna!!
Jul 04, 2009 @ 3:53 am
Janet
Transit did you a favour by not letting the turkeys on. After all “It is hard to soar like an eagle when you ride with turkeys”!
Jul 04, 2009 @ 8:20 pm
Brat
I dunno, Dave.
Are you SURE those are turkeys?
I took a picture of one… http://www.stonyfield.com/weblogarchives/BovineBugle/FrozenTurkey2.jpg
They don’t look the same.
Jul 05, 2009 @ 9:39 am
lisa
They sure are some ugly birds! I’m wondering what’s up w/ them in the city. Their populations are increasing and we see them in suburbs where we didn’t before… maybe they think your block is like, say, North Andover or something.
Did I ever tell you that once I cut off the toe of a turkey? It (he?) was trapped in a leghold trap in a swamp I was working in, and had worked himself to the point that he’d broken his bone and I only had to cut through his skin.
Met the trapper on the way out. Ugly, inside and out…
Jul 06, 2009 @ 1:38 pm
sandy
Turkeys in Boston. I love it! I mean, I always knew that some people in Boston WERE turkeys, you know, but now? This.
I love it. I do.
xo
Jul 12, 2009 @ 8:45 am