Turkeys are not velociraptors…

[fbhjr]

This morning I had to head over to the doctor’s office to have my blood
taken so she can tell me I’m fat at my annual physical on Wednesday.

On the way back to the office I was going down the big hill at the edge of
the town in which I live when I saw all the west bound traffic coming up
the hill was stopped. I could see something in the road, but not tell what
it was.

Then, two large turkeys jumped the barricade between lanes into the east
bound lane. One of them reared up tall with its wings spread fully out.
It was probably four feet tall with an even wider wing span and did look
very impressive.
I could see how it could intimidate people. Reared up, taking a lot of
space, beak raised…

When the minivan ahead of me hit it doing about 50, it seemed very
surprised.
The second one did a literal double take. It’s bottom beak dropped open
and its head spun to see the first one rolling down the center divider,
feathers flying everywhere.

The second one hopped the barrier again to the west bound lane where the
cars dutifully stopped for it again. It ran into the woods and didn’t look
back again.

I felt bad for the turkey that got hit. It seemed so confident that the
big red thing coming towards it would back off when it did its big display.
But, mini vans are not afraid of turkeys.

Comments

[morgan-lafaye.livejournal.com]

Could the the van have stopped in time? If so, dumbass human for hitting the turkey.

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

I don't think so. It slammed on its breaks, but there was a car in the other lane, so it couldn't dodge. And, the turkey jumped out right in front of it.

[morgan-lafaye.livejournal.com]

Well then, dumbass turkey for trying to cross RT 9.
I'd hate to have to clean the van. Jenn hit a turkey once coming home, Aaron and I had pull it out from the car. NOT fun.

[palusbuteo.livejournal.com]

Ack! Poor turkey!

too bad it didn't learn from the turkeys I came across in Western MA one time, this turkey wandered onto the road and I stopped.
I was the only one on the road, and when it realized this, stood in the middle of the road looking at me, and nodded so the other
dozen turkeys hidden on the side could cross. I swear it looked at me as if to thank me when the last one crossed. I'm just glad
I was able to see it way ahead of me.

[endlessblush.livejournal.com]

Wild turkeys run out and hit cars?

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

Turkeys think they are velociraptor and everyone should run away from them.
So, they'll walk into roads, parking lots or wherever they feel like going and try and intimidate things to get out of their way.
They are big birds, so this often works.
But, not on highways.

They had all but died out here in the Boston area last century. But in the last twenty years or so they've been making a comeback.
When I was a kid, you never saw them. You'd see pheasants once in a while, but not turkey.
Now it is the other way around.