Zelda Still Kickin' in Battery Park

Photo by Megan Hunt

Yesterday morning a reader spotted this turkey in Battery Park, and told us "no one else seemed to notice." Everyone is probably just used to seeing the turkey around though: it's Zelda! The last we heard she had wandered onto the West Side Highway, where cars skidded to avoid her in 2004; then she was spotted again in 2006.

Zelda is named after F. Scott's wife Zelda Fitzgerald, because during one of Mrs. F's many nervous breakdowns she went missing and was discovered in Battery Park. Zelda the turkey has been in the park since 2003, and it's "presumed that she entered Manhattan's north end from the Bronx and then journeyed south (downtown), as during spring 2003 there were several turkey sightings in Manhattan at points progressively further south, all prior to Zelda's taking up residence in the park." More photos of the bird here; let's hope she makes it through another Thanksgiving!

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By Jen Carlson in Arts & Entertainment on September 17, 2009 10:34 AM

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SFOtoJFK

I worked across the street from the park for several years starting in 2001. I remember when Zelda arrived and I looked for her just about every day. Actually bummed me out when she would go missing for days.

One time some kids were chasing her around and I told the kids...how'd you like it if I started chasing you around the park? Probably get scared, now wouldn't you? They stopped and ran off...probably thought I was pervert. Nope, just looking out for the bird. She's up in the trees a lot of the time. It's great that she's back.