Centerville turkey chases mailtruck

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By Eric Williams
ewilliams@capecodonline.com
January 27, 2011CENTERVILLE — Maybe they lost his bird seed catalog, but for some reason, a wild turkey is attacking a mail truck in a local neighborhood.

At about 1 p.m. Wednesday, the turkey ran out of the woods and followed the truck along Hi-Ona Hill Road. Mail carrier John Moran stopped the vehicle when the male turkey strode in front of the truck and began puffing up and waggling his neck.


When the bird wobbled around to the side of the vehicle, Moran saw his opening and gunned the truck down the road. The turkey ran after him, showing good speed.

But Moran had to stop again — that's the way it is with mail delivery — and the turkey caught up with him around the corner, on Waterside Drive. The turkey, apparently familiar with a shortcut, came shooting out of a yard and this time things got a little ugly.

As the truck puttered along, the turkey came up alongside the vehicle's starboard and launched into a series of side jumps, banging up against the truck with a thump and clatter that could be heard 100 feet away.

At one point, it appeared the turkey would be sucked under the truck, but no. The truck sped away, and after a spirited, wattle-wiggling pursuit, the turkey veered off into the woods.



The fowl episode was over, at least for the day.

Moran, who was substituting for the regular mail carrier, said he felt a bit intimidated by the turkey. "I didn't want to get out of the truck," he said. "I figured the thing would go after me."

Wild turkeys are frequent fliers in the neighborhood, but this get-the-truck business is a relatively new phenomenon, said Ryan Glines, who lives nearby. Some residents in the neighborhood suspect the signature rumble of the mail truck might be irking the turkey.

But Glines has another theory: "I think it might be the eagle painted on the side of the truck."
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Oh!! Brazen feathered one!

The bird has been caught and is locked up in the pen.

Now comes this:

Cape mail truck turkey gets lady friend

By Eric Williams
February 24, 2011

He's got a friend, now he needs a name.

Remember the wild turkey that attacked a mail truck in Centerville, the one Ethel Kennedy thought was an escapee from the family's Hyannisport compound (but wasn't), you know, that turkey that was stalked and netted by state wildlife officials and given to Zooquarium in West Yarmouth where he now lives in an enclosure?

Well, anyway, he seems to be doing fine according to Amy Travers, education coordinator at Zooquarium, and that may be because a few days ago, Zooquarium staff added a female turkey to the enclosure.

"They do spend time next to each other, and hanging out with each other," said Travers.

But, according to Travers, "he still needs a name." Thus, Zooquarium is asking visitors and facebook friends to cook up a moniker for perhaps the wildest turkey in Cape Cod history.

The winning name will be announced during the first week of March.
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What to call a turkey that's wild about the Postal Service and needs a girlfriend?

Cliff Clavin.

Done before I posted

(In a NON Facebook way, of course. info@zooquariumcapecod.net)

Slow news day OR free passes were handed out at the Times...
Yarmouth's ZooQuarium features trained seagulls

By Jason Kolnos
jkolnos@capecodonline.com
February 26, 2011

WEST YARMOUTH — She trains sea gulls by the seashore.

Meet Amy Travers, the gull whisperer of Cape Cod.

The wildlife expert has taught three injured gulls how to perform at a unique ZooQuarium bird show.

No need to hold onto your lunch in front of this bunch. The trio of juvenile gulls is trained to eat on command, respond to calls and play with toys.

And Travers is trying to counteract the stigma that all gulls are "sky rats" or "Dumpster ducks," as they're often called.

"It's fun to show people that, in addition to possibly eating all of your leftovers at McDonalds or at the beach, they still are important animals, especially here on Cape Cod where we're surrounded by gulls," said Travers, ZooQuarium's education coordinator.

Travers' gulls suffered injuries last year, leaving them unable to fly. After rehabilitation at Wild Care in Eastham, the gulls were adopted by ZooQuarium and turned into showbirds.

There's Boris and Arnold — two Great Black-backed Gulls — and Creaser, a Herring Gull.

Boris perks his white head up when he hears his name and waddles over to Travers when she beckons. It helps that she has a snack tray of small capelin and herring fish handy for encouragement.

Travers said they are trying to teach the sea gulls how to perform natural behaviors on command, like unfurling their wingspan and how to crack open mussels and clams from atop different levels of platforms.

The gulls can play with toys, too. Boris and Arnold like picking at pool noodles. Creaser's favorites are fake gourds.

"He really loves to play with plastic pumpkins in the water," Travers said. "He'll actually drag them all around the pool, he'll lift them out, he'll dump the water so they float and then he'll fill them with water so that they sink."

Her sea gulls are also an important educational tool for folks that visit ZooQuarium, Travers said. She speaks about how the gull population was decimated by humans seeking feathers for hats hundreds of years ago, as well as the gulls' role in the ecosystem.

"They are beautiful. They are smart. They are talented. They have personalities all their own and it's not really so bad that they are helping us to keep the parking lots clean," Travers said.

*What: Bird show at ZooQuarium. 674 Route 28, West Yarmouth
* When: Noon and 3 p.m. daily; closed on Tuesdays through Memorial Day
* Cost: Free with park admission; $11.75 for adults, $7.75 for children ages 2-9, under age 2 are admitted free
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When *ahem* I win the "Name a Turkey" contest, I'll check it out.

Noon Update:
Bored. Checked "Openbook" to see if there was any Facebook traffic about the turkey naming contest. Nothing. Nada. Zilch.

http://youropenbook.org/?q=zooquarium&gender=any

Tried "turkey name"
http://youropenbook.org/?q=turkey+name&gender=any

Found 1 entry:
"Frank LaGreca Now we need a name! I think Ethel. shar.es The wild, wild turkey that attacked a mail truck in Centerville has been given a friend at Zooquarium in West Yarmouth, and the facility is asking for the public's help in naming the bird. Cape mail truck turkey gets lady friend | CapeCodOnline.com "
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I think mine is better.

From the ZooQuarium FaceBook page:
ZooQuarium Names Turkey
It is official! The mail truck attacking, maybe Ethel Kennedy's turkey finally has a name. Thanks to all for your great suggestions. His new zoo name is 'Zippy.' This is short for 'Zip Code,' of course!
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Lame. What's lamer is they didn't pony up (turkey up) free tix to the winner.
Losers.