I am guessing the bridge had widows on both sides, giving Tommy the impression that he could just fly through.  I’m also guessing that other birds have had the same experience, but Tommy is the first one big enough to actually break a window.   It might be worthwhile to place decals on or other objects in front of the window to show it is not a through-way.

Here are some other suggestions from the Humane Society:

http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/bird_safe_windows.html

It is good to hear Tommy is okay… at least until Thanksgiving.

W.

Just thought I would share with the group yet another use for a fire blanket.

Last Friday afternoon, a graduate student burst into my office and shouted “Has anyone told you about the broken window on the 3^rd floor bridge?” (We have bridges that connect our academic and research buildings.)

I went to investigate, thinking that a student on the plaza shattered the window with a baseball.

Oh, was I wrong!

When I arrived I saw an adult tom turkey (wild,~ 15 lbs.) running around on the bridge, a lot of broken glass, and the sound of people shrieking. To make a long story short, my staff and I used 2 fire blankets to catch, calm, and secure the bird until the appropriate authorities arrived on scene. Tommy the Turkey was miraculously in great shape, had a quick recovery from the event, and was taken to a farm out of town and released in a safe place. The lab staff and I are still recovering and have had our fair share of “turkey” jokes.

You can’t make this stuff up.

The fun never ends…

Barbara L. Foster

College Safety Officer

Eberly College of Arts and Sciences

C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry

West Virginia University

304-293-2729 (desk)

304-276-0099 (mobile)