In Robert McCloskey’s classic children’s book Make Way for Ducklings, a kindly Boston police officer named Michael stops Beacon Hill traffic so a family of ducklings can waddle from the Charles River to the Public Garden. In Newton this afternoon, an anonymous driver in a Lexus pulled out to block traffic on Dedham Street so a largish flock of wild turkeys could cross unmolested.
Dedham Street is a highly trafficked suburban thoroughfare, Boston-area drivers can’t always be trusted to leave you unmolested, and it’s the weekend before Thanksgiving. The word “overconfident” (or even “oblivious”) doesn’t come close to describing these birds’ attitude.
Apologies for the poor quality of today’s image, but I hadn’t planned to be shooting wildlife pictures on the way home from running Saturday errands. Click here if you want some better images of an impromptu turkey crossing.
Hoarded Ordinaries 
Nov 22, 2008 at 7:46 pm
I’ve crossed paths (walking) with a small herd of wild turkeys twice up on Belmont Hill in the last couple of weeks. It’s obviously an active time for them. Half did wait for me to move along before joining the other half, so they’re at least aware of human beings on foot. Cars apparently not so much.
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Nov 22, 2008 at 8:36 pm
We had a family of turkeys in our town that created controversy ’cause they got a bit aggressive with pedestrians. Alas, eventually at least two of them did get hit by cars…
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Nov 23, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Yes, turkeys can be VERY aggressive with pedestrians, so I’d recommend giving them wide berth whenever you see them on foot. Viewed from a car (or on your Thanksgiving dinner plate), they’re a bit less threatening. 🙂
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