A brush turkey that had been wandering a Central Coast neighborhood for several months with an arrow lodged in its shoulder has finally been rescued. The bird, affectionately named “Arrowyn,” was captured on Tuesday after entering a resident’s kitchen in East Gosford.
The injured native bird is now recovering following a veterinary procedure that successfully removed the arrow. It is expected to be released back into its natural habitat in a few months.
Since the turkey was first spotted last October with the arrow protruding from its back, local residents and wildlife caretakers have been actively searching for it. Multiple attempts to capture the bird had been made, but it was not until it wandered into Phil Rutherford’s home this week that it was finally caught.
Mr. Rutherford, who first noticed the turkey in January, recalled seeing it in his backyard among other turkeys. “I noticed the arrow sticking out of its back, which was about 70 centimeters long,” he said. “Despite its injury, it seemed to be managing, although its movements were a bit unusual, especially when it got close to a fence.”
After observing the turkey, Mr. Rutherford reached out to wildlife consultant Cathie Stubbs for advice. She suggested that he feed the bird to help monitor its condition. Gradually, he was able to coax the injured turkey to come closer by placing food progressively nearer to his home.
Ms. Stubbs described the challenge of safely transporting the bird, given the arrow still embedded in its shoulder, but she successfully took it to the veterinarian for treatment. She remarked on the bird’s remarkable survival, stating, “He’s in very good condition for a bird that’s been walking around with an arrow in him.”
Veterinarian Robin Crisman, who performed the surgery, confirmed that the arrow had penetrated deeply but fortunately missed vital organs, including the heart. “It came out quite well, and he should make a full recovery, which is just amazing,” Dr. Crisman said.
However, she also noted that this was not the first instance of wildlife being injured by arrows, indicating that such incidents are unfortunately not uncommon. “Penetrating injuries aren’t rare among our wildlife, as some people use them for target practice,” she added.
The spirited turkey spent less than a day at the veterinary hospital before being placed under the care of a wildlife rehabilitator for recovery. Plans are in place for its eventual release back into the wild over the upcoming months.
It is important to note that shooting native wildlife is illegal in New South Wales, yet prosecuting offenders can be challenging unless they are caught in the act.
