Why Did the Turkey Cross the Road?

[257bob]

I was giving my bike a vigorous shakedown after doing some minor maintenance and getting the driveability download this past Saturday. Traveling on a long straight stretch, slightly down hill at 60 MPH. Noticed a large bird on the right hand shoulder, started slowing. As I got closer I could see it was a turkey and she was facing the road as if to cross. I was still slowing at that point. The turkey turned around as I got closer and started running toward the woods. I got off the brakes and continued on. Suddenly, the fool bird turned around again, started sprinting toward the road and then took off right in front of me. I was back on the brakes and waiting for the inevitable. She missed my windshield by about 6 feet... I was going 15 or 20 MPH at that point. All I could think about was another rider who was killed a couple weeks ago in this area after hitting a large bird.

Lessons learned;

Do not assume that any animal is going to continue doing what it is currently doing.

I should have continued to slow, even after the bird headed into the woods. I would have had time to stop completely if neccessary.

My riding will be adjusted accordingly.

[RidingJerry]

thanks for the lesson.
It is strange how animals will change directions several times.

[NHMongo]

Thanks for the reminder. Turkeys are getting so much more common around NE. I see them all the time on the side of the road. Mostly they just ignore vehicles. Maybe I'm taking that for granted....

[NOYACANT]

Some years ago a buddy and I were tooling along a back road riding two abreast. While rounding a curve, low and behold there were a flock of turkeys taking flight from the ditchline. No forwarning, just a flurry of feathered bowling balls whizzing by our heads. How we made it through unscathed, I'll never know. Just remember, where there's one turkey, there's more'n likely more lurking nearby. Same goes for deer. At least you had time to react.

Around the same time, his cousin had stopped by my place to see if I'd like to go for a putt. As he turned to me, I noticed a hole in his cheek and blow dried blood that had run down his face and neck. Feathers floated about as he took off his lid. Seems a starling had flown into his path and drove his beak into his cheekbone. Being the hardass he is, he never skipped a beat. Just dislodged the offending squab from his face and helmet and threw it to the road as he watched the plume of feathers whaft in the mirror. Just an inch higher and I don't know that his KDs woulda saved his eye.

Just a couple of the many close calls to date. Most critters don't think, rather they react in unexpected manners. Always expect the unexpected.

[FlaFatBoy]

I was going about 80 on the interstate and off to the right were a bunch of those big carrion eating buzzards or vultures. All of a sudden out of nowhere one takes off and is coming straight for me. It seemed like he just cleared my head by inches. Really, no time to react and don't know that I would have wanted to anyway at my speed. Scared the shiit out of me!



Ride Safe
Randy

[257bob]

After thinking about it some more, I suspect she was the last of a flock that had just crossed the road and she didn't want to be left behind. It's pretty rare to see a lone hen turkey.

I'm embarrassed by my reaction to the whole thing. I know what I should have done and I have all the skills needed to do it. Just didn't... Perhaps this is also a lesson on the dangers of complacency.

I work in an industrial environment and there is a lot of focus on safety. Problems usually arise when we get used to what we are doing and the hazards that surround us.

It's hard to be vigilant when the leaves are coming out, it's 65 degrees and sunny. The task at hand then, is to train ourselves to be aware, alert and attentive as much of the time as possible, whether we're at work or on the road.

Ride Safe.

[Keith E.]

It's hard to be vigilant when the leaves are coming out, it's 65 degrees and sunny. The task at hand then, is to train ourselves to be aware, alert and attentive as much of the time as possible, whether we're at work or on the road

Bob don't forget deer, dogs, cats, possums, coons, the buzzards that fatboy mentioned, and a host of others.

Keith

P.S. No blood, no foul right? Glad you cleared the offending fowl.

[sonoffatboy]

Originally Posted by Keith E.

Bob don't forget deer, dogs, cats, possums, coons, the buzzards that fatboy mentioned, and a host of others.

Keith

P.S. No blood, no foul right? Glad you cleared the offending fowl.

rule #29 ...if you can't eat it in one setting it ain't safe to run over!

[chef-beavis]

These fat birds are really common in Southern WI again these days. I saw a minivan ahead of my take one in the windsheil a couple years ago. I thought it was a tire bouncing down the road until I rode past the now "boneless" bird sitting in the opposite lane like jello with feathers just waiting to be finished off. I kinda felt for it. Caved the entire windshield in on the van. The soccer mom was on her cell when I went past calling for new shorts and a tow, I imagine.

You hit one of those you're going to go down. It would clean you right off the seat at 55mph!

[v2711]

Originally Posted by sonoffatboy

rule #29 ...if you can't eat it in one setting it ain't safe to run over!

Heh! I was talking to a local guy that works at a local logging mill. He works 5am to 1:30 pm. Anyway, he was in his beat-up cage driving in about 4:30am or so.

Now, before I say this, I have to tell ya that this guy is a 'local' who I always thought was a "save the whales" type.

He said that nobody was on the 2 lane so he's going about 70mph (speed limit is 60mph.)..he comes over a rise and see's about 5 turkeys in the lane a few hundred feet away.

So, I says, "what didja do?" He says, "Well, since I was alone on the road, I took it up to about 80mph and BLASTED 3 of the sumbitches. I hate fricking turkeys!". I laugh just thinking about it.

Guess ya had to be there, but the guy rides a Goldwing and puckers up just like we do during the spring & fall.

[Ionvex]

I was cruising down the 2 lane highway one afternoon last week at about 60mph, when I saw a turkey, about a 100 yards away, take off from the left side of the road and fly to the right. I immediately let of the throttle and began to slow down as more turkeys were taking off to cross the road. Good thing I did, next thing I know a hen was flying along beside me, about 10 feet away, head high. I gunned the throttle and got the he!! out of there before she turned to follow the rest of flock. You should of seen the look in her eyes. Glad I didn't t-bone one of them, that would hurt.

Also glad the guy on my arse was awake and didn't run his work van up my backside.