Astoria: The Turkey's Return

There’s a turkey on the loose in New York City. And just a few days ago, I was lucky enough to be in a cab driving past Washington Square Park when I saw her, Astoria– the now famed bird that has evaded law enforcement for the past few weeks and captured the attention of New Yorkers.

Long ago, wild turkeys would have been abundant in Manhattan. In its rolling hills of hardwood forests, it is easy to believe that large populations of turkeys would have lived in what is now Midtown and all over the island. It is, however, much harder to believe that just 150 years ago, the wild turkey nearly went extinct in the U.S. In fact, in New York State, historians and naturalists reported that beginning in the 1840s, the wild turkey had been extirpated (locally extinct). Zero turkeys. No more sightings, no more hunting, no sign of the iconic American bird. 

At the time there was no hunting season or management practices of any kind, which gave way to overhunting. This compounded the significant and swift habitat destruction that was taking place. By the late 1800s, 75% of land in New York State had been burned, slashed, and cleared to make room for farms and development.

It wasn’t until the 1950s when concerted efforts to trap turkeys in one state and reintroduce them into New York occurred that the wild turkey began its comeback story. While the turkeys of Pennsylvania faced a very similar crisis to that of their New York neighbors, a small remnant population still existed in the northern part of the state. From the 1950s to the 1970s, turkeys were captured from Pennsylvania and transported to New York, where they were released. That Pennsylvania turkey population served as the source for similar reintroduction programs in New Jersey, Connecticut, and Massachusetts– all of which now have thriving wild turkey populations.

From 1950 to today, New York saw their wild turkey population go from zero to an estimated 180,000. While their original habitat will never look like it once did, hunting regulations, management practices, and land preservation efforts have played a large part in the wild turkey’s rebirth. 

Something also has to be said for the turkey’s resilience. With its habitat reshaped, the turkey has figured out how to graze in open fields, roost in less abundant woods, and navigate suburban sprawl. The crowded streets of New York are obviously not an ideal home for a wild turkey– many have understandably voiced concern for Astoria’s safety as she dodges dogs, traffic, and cops. But for a turkey hunter and an admirer of the turkey’s incredible beauty and significance in American wildlife, it’s an exciting sight. 

There have been many spring mornings that I have woken up hours before sunrise and wandered deep into the woods only to be completely evaded. I have spent considerable resources traveling to places like southern Georgia, Alabama, central PA, and other remote destinations in pursuit of this elusive bird– and here it is, walking down Park Ave. 

It is a common thought among turkey hunters that whenever you are looking for them, turkeys are never where they’re supposed to be. I can’t think of a better example– or a better reminder that wildlife can always find a way back, even here.