Post by Woody Williams on Apr 10, 2006 9:12:33 GMT -5
Book Marked: Wild Turkey Flies Into Indiana Library
Custodian: 'I Thought It Was A Goner'
POSTED: 10:25 pm EDT April 9, 2006
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- A wild turkey shattered the calm -- and a window -- at the St. Joseph County Library when it crashed through the window, toppling rows of books until a custodian captured the disoriented bird.
"I've heard of deer going through houses, but never turkeys going into a library," library branch manager Judy Falzon said after Friday's excitement at the branch on South Bend's west side.
Falzon was preparing to open the library shortly before 9 a.m. EDT when the bird crashed through a window, shattering the glass pane. She and custodian Irvin Cygirt watched as the bird hopped around, hit another stack of books and then flew onto a cabinet.
Cygirt eventually put on leather gloves and caught the bird, took it outside and released it.
"I picked it up and threw it in the air," Cygirt said. "It took off. I was glad to see that; I thought it was a goner."
The birds were reintroduced to the area in 1997 when 21 turkeys were released near Potato Creek State Park, about 12 miles southwest of South Bend. Since then, as many as 75 have been spotted wandering the area, said park naturalist Tim Cordell.
He said the bird might have been looking for females and lost its way.
"Its radar must've been off to be in the city in the first place," Cygirt said.
The library opened about 90 minutes late so employees could clean up the bird's mess.
Custodian: 'I Thought It Was A Goner'
POSTED: 10:25 pm EDT April 9, 2006
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- A wild turkey shattered the calm -- and a window -- at the St. Joseph County Library when it crashed through the window, toppling rows of books until a custodian captured the disoriented bird.
"I've heard of deer going through houses, but never turkeys going into a library," library branch manager Judy Falzon said after Friday's excitement at the branch on South Bend's west side.
Falzon was preparing to open the library shortly before 9 a.m. EDT when the bird crashed through a window, shattering the glass pane. She and custodian Irvin Cygirt watched as the bird hopped around, hit another stack of books and then flew onto a cabinet.
Cygirt eventually put on leather gloves and caught the bird, took it outside and released it.
"I picked it up and threw it in the air," Cygirt said. "It took off. I was glad to see that; I thought it was a goner."
The birds were reintroduced to the area in 1997 when 21 turkeys were released near Potato Creek State Park, about 12 miles southwest of South Bend. Since then, as many as 75 have been spotted wandering the area, said park naturalist Tim Cordell.
He said the bird might have been looking for females and lost its way.
"Its radar must've been off to be in the city in the first place," Cygirt said.
The library opened about 90 minutes late so employees could clean up the bird's mess.
