On Wednesday a wild turkey was spotted in the Newton Booth neighborhood...and not the sort you find at the Round Corner, but the feathered kind, at the corner of 27th and V in the field across from the old Newton Booth school. According to neighborhood resident Morris Lum: "a turkey was spotted at the vacant lot at 27th Vst it flew up the tree and walked across the freeway ramp and back he's peck'n around the grass watch out for the big claws wed 6pm I put out a plate of mashed potaoes and ... William davidpentoney comment-4877 2009-03-21T15:00:05Z 2009-03-21T15:00:05Z It is not turkey season yet! It starts in California March 28th. There have been increasing number of urban turkeys in Sacramento for a few years. I saw 8 on the corner of 23rd and "L" sts. recently. I see them often in Land Park and around Sac State. davidpentoney 2009-03-21T15:00:05Z Ian Merker comment-4632 2009-03-16T16:07:08Z 2009-03-16T16:07:08Z I nearly rammed a turkey with my Vespa last week on Howe Avenue near American River Drive. If we collided, I don't know who whould have won! Ian Merker 2009-03-16T16:07:08Z Scott Holbrook comment-4623 2009-03-15T03:31:14Z 2009-03-15T03:31:14Z I better look out, I did not realize it was turkey season! Scott Holbrook 2009-03-15T03:31:14Z William Burg comment-4561 2009-03-13T16:05:52Z 2009-03-13T16:05:52Z Scott: Wild turkeys are considered a particularly wily and smart bird by hunters; cagey, tough to approach, and not easily fooled by lures or calls. It is actually turkey season, which might explain why they're so visible this time of year. Maybe they've figured out that if they head downtown they'll be safe from hunters, whereas out in unincporporated areas they risk becoming someone's feast? Most cities have laws against firearm discharge inside of city limits (which only stops the law-abiding from doing so, admittedly) that would limit such freelance urban hunting opportunities. William Burg 2009-03-13T16:05:52Z Scott Holbrook comment-4548 2009-03-13T15:09:53Z 2009-03-13T15:09:53Z BTW - I wish there was a spell check available Scott Holbrook 2009-03-13T15:09:53Z Scott Holbrook comment-4547 2009-03-13T15:08:31Z 2009-03-13T15:08:31Z At my auto repair shop just off of Greenback and Sunrise in central Citrus Heights, there was a quite facinating mating ritual between about 8-10 turkeys. The Toms were all ligned up on one side, "presenting" themselves by puffing out all their feathers - while the Hens were lined up on the other side. Quite a special moment - I need to get a digital camera. What always amazes me is how the turkeys know how do disapear around the endo of October, soon to reapear after the holidays! Of course there were a couple folks that were wishing they had their shot guns with them too! Which brings up the question of "harvesting" wild "urban" turkeys. I do not think there are any natural predators of these birds, and population control is a legitimate topic. Not sure what the official take on that is - Scott Holbrook 2009-03-13T15:08:31Z Jeff McCrory comment-4530 2009-03-12T19:24:22Z 2009-03-12T19:24:22Z Around fair oaks, the wild turkeys are almost as numerous as the deer and roosters, and all three have become used to humans. They are more like feral pets than wild animals. What's weird about the turkeys is that they get way up in the tops of the live oaks and gobble gobble. I always had the impression that turkeys couldn't fly. Jeff McCrory 2009-03-12T19:24:22Z Jonathan Mendick comment-4515 2009-03-12T18:32:05Z 2009-03-12T18:32:05Z I saw a turkey this morning while driving downtown. Last weekend at around dusk I also saw a family of turkeys going south and crossing Arden Way near the Highway 160 exit. The big turkey looked both ways before crossing the street. Then when the coast was clear, the whole family ran for it. They looked like they were following pedestrian traffic regulations! Unfortunately someone speeding off the freeway hit one of the little ones who was straggling. Jonathan Mendick 2009-03-12T18:32:05Z William Burg comment-4527 2009-03-12T17:24:51Z 2009-03-12T17:24:51Z Peacocks are a common sight in some parts of town: I see them often around Miller Park near the river when riding the "Sacrament Southern" trains, and where the south river road out of West Sacramento goes under the old Sacramento Northern trestle: I think the owner of a house near there raises them. It's kind of neat to be reminded that even though we live in a city there are wild things all around us. William Burg 2009-03-12T17:24:51Z Mona Romero comment-4526 2009-03-12T17:17:14Z 2009-03-12T17:17:14Z That is awesome! It would totally make my day to see a turkey strutting around Midtown. A few months ago on a bike ride I saw a peacock. This was in a field next to the Panera in Elk Grove. Mona Romero 2009-03-12T17:17:14Z