Since a number of you have expressed to me your disbelief in the Kendall Square Turkey, I decided that I would provide some pictures. That turned out not to be quite as easy as I had originally hoped.

For the first week or two, I saw the turkey every day, sometimes twice. He was always in the same place or within feet of it, sitting, standing, or walking around, but still right there where I could see him. So last Tuesday, I decided to bring my camera to work with me and snap a few pictures on the way in. Sounds pretty trivial, right? Well, he wasn’t there. That might have something to do with the fact that a crew of construction workers were redoing the sidewalk right in front of his special area. They were being loud and I know he doesn’t like that.

The construction went on for a few days, but I was certain he would return once they were done. So, I brought my camera in every day, so I’d be ready for him. The construction was over near the end of the week, but then the rain came and still no more turkey.

Today was a beautiful day! He was back again and totally strutting his stuff! At lunch, I brought Lisa to see him and he ran for us and it was so elegant and wonderful! So, on the way home I decided to stop over and take a few pictures. He wasn’t in the front like he usually is, but since I learned his new hiding spot around the side of the building when he ran there at lunch, I knew where to find him.

Now, I have to admit, the fact that the building is all “federaly” caused me to think twice about walking around to the side entrance, but I thought to myself “what’s the worst thing that could happen?” Well, I learned a little more about that. I wasn’t able to snap three pictures before a security guard grabbed me and dragged me into the building. I had to wait around with a couple of security types for the guy in charge to come in and question me. They took copies of my driver’s license. They explained to me about “heightened alerts.”

When I told them I was just there taking pictures of the turkey, they got all excited. They love that turkey! They showed me pictures they’ve taken (they’ve taken to calling him “Gobblinsn”, as one picture was captioned). He has apparently be there for “a couple of months” and he does not leave. When I am not able to see him in front of the building, he is around the side, or up on the roof where he sleeps at night. And apparently, to get on the roof, he sort of runs and flies half way up, landing on a small ledge, and then does it once more to get on top. They think someone fed him when he first arrived and that’s why he hasn’t moved on. Plus, he gets lots of attention, and I get the impression that this dude loves attention.

Anyway, once they questioned me and decided I wasn’t much of a threat, they chatted me up about the turkey for a while and I was on my way. I was told that I should come back during the business day and ask the chief security officer if I can get permission to take some more pictures, but that seems like quite a bit of hassle. Then again, I really do want to get some good pictures of this guy. We’ll see. It could really go either way.

So, I only got the two pictures and they’re both pretty blurry. But, since I know it’s what you’re all waiting for, and since I nearly got arrested trying to get them, here they are:

I hope you enjoy them. If you do, please thank my new friends over at the Volpe National Transportation Systems Center security office for not taking them away.

• Share this: