For everyone who wondered what ever happened to The West Seattle Turkey

(December 2019 photo by Rosalie Miller)

It’s that time of year again when turkey is on many minds … and headed for so many ovens. But thoughts have also turned to the wild turkey who surprised and delighted West Seattleites for many months. Several readers have messaged or commented recently asking what ever happened to The West Seattle Turkey. (Some had names for her – Tallulah and Admiral Belvidere among others – but we just referred to her as TWST.) The first sighting we heard about was in April 2019, in Arbor Heights. She headed northbound and eventually settled in the Admiral area, most often seen near West Seattle High School, with some side trips – including a perch on a Junction crane. Then around the time the pandemic really blew up back in March, she started heading south, with a sojourn in Gatewood, then finding her way back to Arbor Heights in early April, and eventually leaving West Seattle altogether – after this sighting, she crossed the city-limits line, and so far as we’ve heard, never came back. Last report we got was a Kent sighting in late April. Some time later, we contacted Regional Animal Services of King County to ask if they by any chance had rounded up a turkey. They had – but it was definitely not the same turkey. So TWST’s fate remains a mystery. It was speculated she roamed because she was looking for love; we hope she found it.

17 Replies to "For everyone who wondered what ever happened to The West Seattle Turkey"

  • dan November 25, 2020 (4:18 pm)

    I follow a few Burien Facebook pages and I have heard of a few turkey sightings on and off.  I will investigate further.

  • LB November 25, 2020 (4:32 pm)

    Beautiful, beautiful creature! 

  • Alex S. November 25, 2020 (4:43 pm)

    If you’ve never seen the PBS documentary, “My Life as a Turkey” offers some fascinating insight into the lives of wild turkeys.  We watch it every year for Thanksgiving. Thanks to WSB & its readers for covering the adventures of West Seattle’s most famous feathered friend. 

    • Emily November 25, 2020 (6:04 pm)

      I second this, it’s a *delightful* documentary 

  • North admiral November 25, 2020 (4:50 pm)

    I read this nervously hoping it wasn’t bad news. If it ever is, just tell us she’s running around happy in a farm up north

  • HD November 25, 2020 (5:55 pm)

    As a single woman living in West Seattle, I feel her pain. Cheers to finding turkey love!

  • Colonel Mustard's Wrench November 25, 2020 (5:57 pm)

    Such a magnificent bird ! 

    May she always fly free !

  • Toni Reineke November 25, 2020 (9:21 pm)

    Gorgeous photo from Rosalie Miller! 

  • ScubaFrog November 25, 2020 (9:47 pm)

    Blessings to you sweet Turkey, you glorious sweet winged angel.  You came to shine your love on West Seattle, and we felt it.  Perhaps you’re in another kind, small-knit community, spreading your love and cheer.  May they come to know you as we did.  Long Live WS TURKEY! 

  • K. Davis November 25, 2020 (9:56 pm)

    * … burp … *   Sorry about that.  

  • M November 25, 2020 (10:06 pm)

    We joked that she left West Seattle because of Covid and losing the West Seattle bridge!

  • Burien Tallulah November 26, 2020 (7:16 am)

    She came walking through our yard this spring. We live on 116th and 19th ave in Burien. This was April 11th, 2020. 

  • TWST November 26, 2020 (10:33 am)

    Maybe will return in the Spring?

    Happy Thanksgiving WS 💛

  • Henrydpainter November 26, 2020 (9:19 pm)

    It’s mistake  was  going  to kent ,    Probably  someone  eat  him  already,      Happy  thanksgiving 🦃🍁!!!!  

  • SnakeHill Mom November 27, 2020 (10:08 am)

    In recent weeks a wild turkey has shown up in Rainier Valley. I wondered if our turkey figured out how to cross to Rainier Valley without the bridge.

  • WSCurmudgeon November 27, 2020 (2:16 pm)

    The WS Turkey is / was a hen. She wanted a mate, could not find one, so left the area to find one.  To those who wish that she had stayed,  read the linked article about the Tom (male) Turkey that follows.  Male wild turkeys are very territorial,  and often do not coexist with humans when they become  habituated to us.  There is not enough suitable habitat for wild turkeys to nest in West Seattle.   They need undisturbed thick cover.  Lincoln and Schmitz Parks,  The golf course/Camp Long, and the SSC Campus have too much human activity,  which would lead to encounters similar to those described in this article.

    https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/nov/25/oakland-turkey-gerald-attack-rose-garden?

    • TWST November 27, 2020 (6:46 pm)

      Wow, what a story, thanks for sharing :)

      I hope TWST finds a good mate out in the wild, but she is missed.

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