On Roosevelt Island, she had her home, her friends and the security of a small community where everyone knew her. Cars slowed down for her. Residents helped her cross the road.
But that wasn’t enough, it seems. Like so many before her, she flew the coop, lured across the East River by the bright lights and glamour of Midtown Manhattan. Was she seeking excitement? Danger? A date?
Astoria, the wild turkey who rose to fame last year when she unexpectedly appeared in Midtown, visiting luxury retailers, dining at high-end restaurants and roosting on Park Avenue, returned to Midtown East on Sunday.
Over the past two days, she has had some wild adventures: She has roosted in trees and on balconies, foraged in flower beds and fled from dogs. She even had a run-in with the police. Her movements have delighted and captivated New Yorkers, even as a bevy of dedicated bird-watchers have worried about her safety.
As of early Tuesday, she was still living the high life. She was last seen on Monday night roosting on a balcony around 58th Street, between First Avenue and Sutton Place, said David Barrett, a birder who runs the Manhattan Bird Alert account on X and helps look after Astoria.
Birders say Astoria probably crossed the East River to look for love.
In the days before setting off for Midtown, she had strayed to parts of Roosevelt Island, a residential neighborhood in the East River, where she didn’t usually go, and had been calling out, Mr. Barrett said. “When you put that together with the fact that it’s mating season for wild turkeys, we figured that she’s looking for a mate.”
Since arriving in Midtown on Sunday morning, Astoria appears to have limited her search for a partner to the area around Sutton Place, one of the city’s wealthiest neighborhoods.
It is a fitting locale for a discerning bird, said Whitney Devlin, 80, who lives in the neighborhood, on 58th Street. She arrived home on Monday afternoon to see Astoria, with iridescent glimmers of orange and blue in her brown feathers, sitting in her front courtyard, surrounded by tulips.
“It’s supposed to be a very elegant area,” Ms. Devlin said. “Of course, you saw what she looks like. She’s experienced. She’s been out since 2024.”
She said that Astoria posed well for photos and did not appear perturbed by the crowd of fans that gathered. “I didn’t ask for an autograph,” she added. “I didn’t want to presume.”
Seeing Astoria was the highlight of her day, Ms. Devlin said.
Astoria, who is named for the Queens neighborhood where she may have first been spotted, has evaded capture by the authorities. Videos posted to social media show officials, including some police officers, trying to herd her into a carrier box before she propels herself into the air. The New York Police Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Mr. Barrett, the birder, said that attempts to capture her were counterproductive, because they would frighten her into flying high, where she would be unable to forage for food or water.
He was concerned about how she would fare in the hustle and bustle of Midtown, with its busy traffic and limited places for foraging. On Roosevelt Island, she is well-known and looked after, he said. Cars are few; turkey-crossing signs have been erected to ensure she can cross roads safely; and residents know to watch out for her.
“We hope she realizes the mistake she’s made and flies back soon, maybe tomorrow,” he said. “If she does, she’ll get to eat, she’ll get all the water she needs and she’ll be fine.”
As for her attempts to find a mate? “It’s impossible,” Mr. Barrett said. “She’s the only wild turkey in Manhattan.”
Ms. Delvin said she heard someone in the neighborhood had two pet turkeys but shared some advice: “She’s probably better off single.”
