Where I live in Hamburg, Sussex County NJ, we rarely go a day without seeing a wild turkey.
This morning - the day before Thanksgiving - Chip made an early morning dash to the supermarket while I answered real estate emails and was getting set to blog. CRASH! The house shook. In fact, it sounded and felt like Chip had backed his SUV into a not-yet-fully-opened garage door. But he wasn't home.
Looking around the house, I found a sorry sight. One of the wild turkeys had flown into the side of our home and wasn't going to recover. Although they can't fly far, these fowl can fly very fast for a short time.
It was a sad thing. But, the "black humor" aspect didn't elude me.
- Had the turkey read my recent post that our community won't be Active Adult much longer?
- Was it facing being someone's dinner tomorrow?
- Slated to host the in-laws for Thanksgiving?
Chip got home and thought I was nuts but I did call our non-emergency police number, which is how Animal Control is contacted in Hamburg. We were prepared to dispose of the turkey but I envisioned being busted for poaching. Yes, I identified myself and said, "I know the day before Thanksgiving this will sound like a joke, but a turkey just killed itself by flying into the side of my home." When the dispatcher stopped laughing, she logged my call so there would be no poaching charges.
I know you think I'm kidding:
So, I'm adding to my "thankful list" that I wasn't this turkey and that the CRASH wasn't Chip's SUV backing into the garage door (a second time)!
Copyright © 2009, Irene Kennedy, all rights reserved. This blog post represents Irene's personal musings.
Considering selling a home or looking to buy one around Sussex County NJ? Benefit from creative marketing, top negotiating skills and vast real estate knowledge by contacting Irene via the data to the right.
Irene Kennedy, who is a NJ real estate agent with Weichert, Realtors, lives in Sussex County & works from the Hamburg office. Her primary market includes: Augusta, Branchville, Crystal Springs, Frankford, Franklin, Hamburg, Hampton, Hardyston, Highland Lakes, Lake Mohawk, Newton, Ogdensburg, Scenic Lakes, Sparta, Stockholm, Sussex, Vernon, Wantage.
We were watching on CNN a Turkey that was roaming the roads in NJ and I thought you were blogging about it , Fun post thanks
So Irene, who got to eat Tom Turkey? Or did he sacrifice himself for naught? Actually wild turkeys are quite tasty - better than Butterballs.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Charlie- I think they captured the turkey that was "menacing" the cars on the Turnpike. Actually, the culprit was soiling the toll workers's cars more so than causing traffic problems. He is now on a farm.
Synergy - While I've enjoyed wild turkeys on the table, I am very blessed not to be cooking tomorrow. Our local bears, however, are in for a Thanksgiving treat.
This is morbidly funny. You didn't even have to go to the store. Eat him with gratefull hearts.
That is too funny. I can see the stress in the turkey's eyes!
I think Bill Feela is looking for a wild bird! Of course, you'll have to ship the carcass to Minnesota.
Featured in the Group "Whacked!!!"
Irene, It seems turkicide is usually up this time of year. It's awful when they perform the dirty deed on one's own soil...or in your case...siding.
Claude - And the poor thing's timing! Not like this happens regularly (or ever before).
Douglas - Holidays can be stressful. Glad you had a laugh to de-stress your Thanksgiving.
Richard - Should be well seasoned if I ship it to Bill by snail mail... Thanks for the honor!
... the economy has not just affected us humans ... it has brought stress among other creatures too, and this poor fowl just couldnt take it anymore ...
Oh and btw, a quick hose-down will remove all evidence from your siding ... !
Have a great turkey day anyway Irene !!!!
Irene...I did find my bird, but don't let yours go to waste. Very good table fare!~
Irene,
One day before Thanksgiving, this is a story you couldn't make up. Too funny.
Sheldon - Think this fowl felt our economy was just too foul?
Bill - Enjoy your wild turkey too!
Terry - Not that fabrication is beyond me, I just rarely have to go that far. The real stuff is just a hoot!
Irene, now that is a great story! And a photo too. Sad fact, turkeys don't pack a full sea bag, the elevator doesn't go to the top floor, the lights are on but nobodys home, you know what I mean, LOL.
Thanks for the full out belly laugh this morning. Happy Thanksgiving!
Irene, thanks for sharing. That was FUNNY!!
Irene,
The irony here sure provides for a funny read! I guess no pardons were in sight for him!
Are you sure one of the neighbor kids didn't throw it at your house??? Great post, thanks for sharing!!!
Poor Turkey. I guess he just didn't want to be dinner and so he ended it early.
Irene - you are so funny. What WERE you going to blog about BEFORE the sad turkey flew into the side of your house?!
What a interesting story... I would love to hear that call to the police department. I'm sure they will talk about this call for a long timeto come.
Irene - That is a very strange story and you are very lucky it wasn't a Flying Cow or Flying Pig!
VB ;o)
Irene great post. I thought it was so great I made everyone listen to me read it which led to lots of laughs, thanks! Happy Turkey Day!
How sad! We lost a wild turkey too...a chick we "rescued" until it could fly.
RIP "Chicken" - they're alot cuter as youngins!
Andrea - At first I thought you meant spouses who back into garage doors...
Lynda - Relieved you found some humor in it too.
Lori - Poor critter probably wanted to spend the rest of his days at Disney too.
Lewis - From the way my house shook, I doubt a major-leaguer has an arm like that!
Christina - He didn't leave a note, so we can only speculate.
Lori Cain - I was so shaken that I don't even remember my original thought stream.
Roland - I suspect the gendarmes will be laughing every time they do their cruise past my home.
VB - Or a flying saucer...
Justin & Crystal - Relieved to hear your listeners didn't nod off as you read.
Lisa - I too find the little ones adorable. We get huge broods that get smaller and smaller as time goes on. Not easy being a wild turkey.
Jane,
How did I omit you? Guess I was laughing too much over "turkicide."
Now that its all over, I bet that Turkey wishes he never tried to fly.
He's already got his wings....flying with the Turkey angels in Heaven.
Irene, a suicidal turkey on Thanksgiving? Only YOU could come up with this!! He's in a better place. Butterball heaven.
Somehow the irony doesn't elude me. At least he was a free range bird and had the chance to live a true turkey life before his end came.
Oh Irene that was hilarious. Not sure which part the most funny, the kama kazi bird, how your face must have looked, or the dispatchers at your call! New meaning to Happy Turkey Day!
Irene - Yes they did catch that turkey on the turnpike and is now basking in the lap of luxury somewhere out by you I believ....lol A sad demise for this turkey though most turkeys have some sort of sad demise I believe.... Great story....:-)
WOW -- I'm glad I read this the day after Turkey Day. What an intereesting tale. Wonder why it did that?
Irene...
Claude stole my comment. He does that to me all the time :)
I'd have plucked and stuffed that bird :)
TLW...ROAR!
Wayne - Don't suicides get sent the other direction?
Gary - Butterball heaven = purgatory for suicidal birds?
Cindy - He had a good life up until then. Feasted on all the bulbs I planted in the spring...
Al and Peggy - No doubt my face would've made a good picture but I vote the dispatcher's face was even better.
Bob - A special thanks for the dancing Butterball!
Carla - I have no idea. The day my mind works like that of a wild turkey is the day I'll fly into my house too!
TLW,
I didn't even need to borrow your counter-offer gun! You should aim it at Claude, who steals your comments.
Well here in rural PA, we probably would have taken that turkey out to the garage, plucked it and eaten it on Thanksgiving day.
Erica - Is this a frequent occurence in rural PA?
I think if it flies into your home, it's fair to eat it.
My boys turkey hunt during that season... tastes like a butterball.
How strange! Glad you shared - it's definitely unusual!
You can't be serious!!!
Irene ~ surely you didn't let it go to waste did you? Whats the odds of this happening
Erica - I agree that wild turkey is tasty.
Emily - Strange but true...
Mark - It sounds like a great "tall tale" but I even I couldn't have come up with this one!
June - In my mind, I didn't let it go to waste. Cook it? No, but the other wildlife in our area had a treat.
That is so sad! But, we do want to know, was the wild turkey better than the store bought one? Most people don't realize they taste very different!!!
Todd - I didn't eat this one, although wild turkey is tasty. Just clueless about how to prep it. Plus, I escaped cooking this Thanksgiving.
Yalova - Thanks very much! It has been over 20 years since I had the pleasure of visiting Turkey, a wonderful country.
Wild turkey the alcohol or wild turkey the meat????
Both are good.
Erica,
Maybe the poor turkey had gotten into the alcohol? That could explain a lot...
this is almost as good as the turkey in the middle of traffic in Boston. I saw it on the news thanksgiving day.
shelton
Shelton,
Sounds like the start of a joke, "Why did the Bostonian turkey cross the road?"
We have seen wild turkeys in our yard, but never had one commit suicide here before. I'm glad I now know this is possible. Thanks, I needed one more thing to worry about!
My husband would have loved it if it happened in our backyard. I wonder who's table it landed on?
Sharon - Kamikaze turkeys will now have us both worried as we enjoy sitting in our yards.
Angelia - Suggest your husband go to the supermarket often and it might happen for you too!