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BRUCE BENNETT<\/p>\n
Getty Images<\/p>\n
Every so often, New York City gets a new folk hero \u2014 and the latest one has feathers. Astoria, a wild turkey who first turned heads in Queens, has become a full-blown Manhattan celebrity after crossing the East River, surviving a Financial District blizzard and winning the devotion of New Yorkers across the city. For anyone who remembers Zelda, the beloved turkey who ruled Battery Park for over a decade, Astoria\u2019s story feels like a beautiful new chapter for the Big Apple.<\/p>\n
How Astoria the Turkey Got Her Start in Queens<\/p>\n
The wild turkey was first spotted in the Astoria neighborhood of Queens in April 2024 \u2014 the place that would give her a name. She stayed roughly a month before moving on, eventually turning up in Midtown, where birder David Barrett confirmed to ABC<\/a> what seemed almost too strange to believe.<\/p>\n She reportedly crossed the East River last May. Barrett explained that wild turkeys can fly quickly but only over short distances, comparing them more to sprinters than long-distance flyers. On Roosevelt Island, Barrett visited her and local residents helped look after her. But Astoria wasn\u2019t finished traveling.<\/p>\n Astoria the Turkey\u2019s Wild Manhattan Adventure<\/p>\n On Sunday, Astoria crossed back over the river and has since been spotted on the East Side near 59th Street. Officers who responded were unable to capture her \u2014 a detail that would surprise no one who has ever tried to tell a New Yorker where to go. Some people think she may be searching for a mate, as she\u2019s been making a distinctive clucking sound.<\/p>\n \u201cShe is doing that so she could be found,\u201d Barrett said.<\/p>\n Her range has been extraordinary. She was seen in Sutton Place, Park Avenue and the area near the SeaGlass Carousel near the Staten Island Ferry terminal. In April 2025, The New York Times<\/a> reported that Astoria was spotted walking around the Financial District during a blizzard. She appeared to not be bothered by the snow.<\/p>\n The New York Women Who Watch Over Astoria<\/p>\n Among the most tender details of Astoria\u2019s story is the community that formed around her. Three women paid her visits and took care of her, returning day after day to check on the wild bird making her way through the city. Their dedication \u2014 right down to worrying about her bedtime \u2014 speaks to the kind of quiet New York devotion that turns an animal sighting into a neighborhood ritual.<\/p>\n \u201cI think she likes our company,\u201d one woman said, per NYT.<\/p>\n \u201cI hope she goes to bed early,\u201d a second woman said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe still have 30 minutes before bedtime,\u201d a third told the outlet.<\/p>\n Why Astoria the Turkey Reminds New Yorkers of Zelda<\/p>\n For those who remember Zelda, Astoria\u2019s presence at the Battery carries a particular weight. The Instagram account NYC Walking Show posted a video of Astoria<\/a> in April 2026, showing her walking through Battery Park as spectators watched. The post called her \u201cThe New Queen of The Battery\u201d and noted: \u201cFor long-time New Yorkers, seeing her feels like a beautiful tribute to Zelda, the famous turkey who ruled this park for over a decade.\u201d<\/p>\n