Is Astoria the turkey the next Flaco the owl? It sure seems that way.
The bird originally called Roosevelt Island home, but she has since decided to make a move to a new space, as most New Yorkers inevitably do. According to the account Manhattan Bird Alert (@BirdCentralPark on Twitter/X), she took off on Sunday, April 13th and has landed in Sutton Place. Since the weekend, Astoria has been walking the streets and adjusting to her active new lifestyle.
So, what exactly is she up to in Midtown East? Quite a bit: She has been seen flying over NYPD cars, perching herself on balconies, and venturing west from Third Avenue at 64th Street. Naturally, people are curious to learn more about Astoria and take a glimpse of her very important turkey activities.
What’s more is that birding experts even suspect she is in search of a mate!
Good luck, Astoria. NYC is one of the hardest cities to be single. Perhaps you should fly your way downtown to Chelsea and visit the newly-opened Social Café, the city’s first exclusive dating café. We could only hope that a fellow turkey is nearby and also looking for love.
Like Flaco, the Eurasian owl who escaped the Central Park Zoo and roamed around the Upper West Side for a year, Astoria is gaining viral attention and stealing hearts in the process (obviously). We could only hope that a fellow turkey manages to steal hers. Like our Flaco, Astoria is one of those unexpected animals adjusting to urban life and turning heads.
Though we are certainly happy for her to explore one of the best NYC neighborhoods, we do hope she stays safe in her journey. Secret NYC has reached out to David Barrett, the creator behind @BirdCentralPark, for comment and we’ll update you as we learn more about Astoria’s travels and wellbeing.
In the meantime as you wait for the tea on Astoria, you can visit NYC’s best zoos and aquariums for a peek at even more adorable creatures.