She is devouring city life.
A rare wild turkey was spotted strutting its stuff around Manhattan on Wednesday. After their epic journey across the East River from Queens, they are now roosting in trees to avoid traffic.
The bird spent all day starting Tuesday foraging in the urban jungle near 49th Street and Madison Avenue, causing onlookers to scream in confusion and joy, according to footage and local birdwatchers.
“It’s very unusual to have turkeys in a place like Manhattan,” said David Barrett, who runs the preserve. Popular bird watching accounts on X.
“This is a healthy bird that can fly at 40 or 50 miles per hour. It won’t be easy to catch her,” Barrett said. Video taken of creature with feathers. “She’s a survivor.”
The Black-crowned Crow was first reported on May 2 through bird tracking databases hightailing it around Long Island City. ebird.orgsaid Barrett.
Despite only being able to fly short distances, she miraculously crossed the East River for three miles and then went for a walk in Midtown. There, she was caught on camera dodging cars at a busy crosswalk next to a construction site.
“Although he is a traffic hazard, he is doing well so far and remains well off sidewalks and roadways,” Barrett said. “If you can’t get food to Central Park, you might need a rescue.”
He said the turkeys may have walked across the Queensboro Bridge or used Roosevelt Island as a “way station” on the viaduct from Queens.
Once in the Big Apple, she sat in some planters, drank water and munched on blueberries provided by bird lovers at Fasano Restaurant on 49th Street.
“I rolled blueberries towards her and she was very happy to eat them,” Barrett said, adding that food was scarce for the bird.
At sunset, she flew over 49th Street and into a tree, where she spent the night roosting without provoking any fowl play.
“Turkeys have a reputation for being easily irritated, but this one seems calm and relaxed,” Barrett said. “For Manhattanites, eating turkey is a special treat. It’s a connection to the wild.”
Turkeys can survive in Manhattan’s green spaces, such as Central Park and Battery Park, where they can eat insects and acorns.
From 2003 to 2014, a wild turkey named Zelda Famous for living in Battery Park. No turkeys have been seen in Central Park since 2017.
A New York City Animal Shelter official said the agency had no plans to bag the bird Wednesday.
Animal control typically prioritizes rescuing animals that pose a threat to people or themselves in New York City.
