By Ian S. Robertson
Residents of a Cleveland, Ohio-area suburb were recently forced to flock to their post office for mail after swarming wild turkeys began threatening local carriers.
The bold birds began behaving badly just before Christmas, Rocky River Mayor Pam Bobst was quoted saying, in a Cleveland.com story the Associated Press carried in early January.
Launched about three weeks after U.S. Thanksgiving, which fell on Nov. 23, none of the dive-bombers were reported to have driven their beaks or claws into the harried posties. But the repeated swarmings left some carriers hen-pecked and nervous of increased risks if they continued trying to complete daily home deliveries.
A 1977 National Wildlife Federation wild turkey stamp also belongs to the author’s collection.
COINCIDENTAL TIMING
The fact that turkey is a favourite meal at both Thanksgiving and Christmas has left conspiracy theorists and jokesters pondering the coincidence of the flock’s timing.
Postal officials declared the beleaguered Rocky River routes unsafe and advised residents to fetch their mail at the post office. They also warned against feeding the winged aggressors.
In other words, bird-lovers were advised to stop dishing out bird feed immediately—wait for it—otherwise known as “Quitting Cold Turkey.”
CROW DISRUPTION
Elsewhere, you may recall the feathered feints of Canuck the crow, who interrupted home mail delivery to three homes in Vancouver, B.C. last June.
Also famous for riding atop the west coast city’s commuter Sky Train and dining at a local McDonald’s, where he strutted his stuff between tables, Canuck kept posties and staff at the restaurant hopping for awhile.
His escapades, unlike those of the wild turkeys, were less-invasive. But his capers were, nonetheless, something to crow about for more than 57,000 Facebook fans who followed posted reports of his frolicking.