[MASSBIRD] Fwd: Unexpected house guest drops in
maurice...@comcast.net
Watch out!!!
Pete Gilmore
Newton, MA
maurivce...@comcast.net
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: "Nancy Criscitiello" <nanni...@hotmail.com>
To: "maurice gilmore" <maurice...@comcast.net>, "Joan Bolker" <joanl...@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, April 29, 2009 7:09:34 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
Subject: FW: Unexpected house guest drops in
Hi. Thought you might like this story. It's from our son Andy who is now living in Hingham, gradually moving out of their house in Holliston (they "close" on the house sale May 29) and works in Milford.
Subject: Unexpected house guest drops in
Date: Tue, 28 Apr 2009 22:13:17 -0400
O.K.
So I'm driving to work this morning just getting off 495 into Milford collecting my thoughts to get my head in the game for a busy day.
7:15 AM Jane calls my cell phone:
Andy: "Hi sweatie - what's up.
Jane: "Where are you now"
Andy: "Just getting of 495 into Milford, why ?
Jane: "Can you get to the Holliston house quick?"
Andy: What's up.
Jane: "Well, Beth Patterson just called me (Holliston neighbor). She just dropped her kids off to school and was heading back by the house and saw a wild turkey fly through the window into the house"
Andy: "What ?"
Jane: "Can you get there quick or should I come out? I'll call Holliston animal control".
Andy: "Turning onto rt. 16 right now, call you when I get there" (ten minutes).
I Called into work to rearrange some morning stuff and arrived 10 minutes later at the house. I found the top storm window and top 6 over 6 sash bashed in
I parked the car, grabbed a broom and a blanket and opened the door not knowing what horrible site awaited me. Sure enough, the turkey was unharmed, perched on the back of a rocking chair next to the living room window, frantically pecking at the window and pooping all over the chair. The second I took a step towards her, she flew around to the Kitchen. When a big bird like that spreads its wings in a small house, it creates a major fracas - Squawking and feathers flying. Of course the only experience I've ever had with fowl in the house was when we all set chickens loose in the Nolton house that summer and that was about 35 years ago.
So while she pulled herself together in the kitchen, I ran around and opened all the windows and doors I could, hoping she would find her way out by trial and error if need be. With plenty of open air in sight, I was ready (I think she had had enough too). I grabbed the broom and stepped toward her. She then took about 5 quick steps around me and somehow was able to launch herself out one of the relatively small side windows.
Unfortunately - the poor bird became air born out the window just in time to meet a SUV heading up the road. All I heard was a squeal from the driver and the soft low thud as the bird hit the windshield - more feathers flying. As the driver pulled over to catch her breath, amazingly, the turkey rolled over the car, landed on its feet and made a B-line for the woods - never to be seen again.
The drive collected herself saw there was no damage and drove onto meet her day.
I spent the next hour and half cleaning up the glass, feathers and poop reflecting about how lucky we are to have a neighbor that was thoughtful enough to take action and follow-up. As it was, the bird was only in the house for 40 minutes. If the neighbor hadn't noticed and called Jane, its likely I would have stumbled on it 9 hours later on my way by. I can only imagine what the house would have looked like with a wild panicked turkey roaming around all day.
I absolutely have a new found respect for how tough wild turkeys are and what poor flyers they are. Its funny to think, if we still lived in Holliston, it would have likely landed in our bed.
Watch out, they roam around in packs
Love,
Andy Cris
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