- Staten Island resident Noel Colon was aggressively chased by a turkey in his driveway while heading to work, all caught on home surveillance video.
- The turkey was later found to be guarding a hidden nest with 11 eggs, explaining her defensive behavior.
- The incident sparked laughter and concern in the neighborhood, with locals now avoiding the area during the bird’s daily patrols.
In a truly wild morning encounter that had neighbors talking and feathers flying, a Staten Island man found himself in a driveway standoff that felt more like a horror-comedy than a start to the workday.
Noel Colon, a National Grid worker and longtime resident of the quiet Grasmere neighborhood, was simply heading out to his SUV to begin his shift when things took an unexpected — and terrifying — turn. A furious turkey, seemingly out of nowhere, launched into a full-on sprint toward him. What began as a typical weekday quickly spiraled into chaos, all captured in vivid detail by his home security camera.
“It Just Came Charging at Me”
The footage shows Colon walking down his front steps with a shopping bag, a large wrapped gift, and a backpack slung over one shoulder. The early morning stillness was shattered by a loud gobble, followed by the unmistakable sound of flapping wings.
“I was just going about my morning like usual,” Colon later explained. “Then out of nowhere, I heard this weird screech, and before I could even react, the thing was charging at me. I panicked — I mean, who expects to be ambushed by a turkey at 6:30 a.m.?”
From there, the scene turned into something out of a slapstick film. Colon was seen zigzagging around his driveway, expletives flying as fast as his feet, trying to keep a safe distance from the determined bird. At one point, he darted behind his SUV and thought he’d lost it — only for the turkey to appear from behind the car door, wings spread, ready for round two.
“It was like something out of a nightmare,” he recalled with a nervous laugh. “I was yelling, trying to make it to the driver’s seat, and this thing was just on me like I owed it money.”
A Mother’s Rage: The Real Reason Behind the Attack
Later that day, still shaken, Colon investigated the scene of the bizarre ambush. What he discovered offered some clarity — and raised a few eyebrows. Just off the walkway, hidden behind a patch of shrubbery, he found a small nest with 11 eggs nestled inside.
Suddenly, it all made sense.
“She wasn’t just being crazy,” Colon admitted. “She was guarding those eggs. I didn’t even know they were there. But I guess in her eyes, I was a threat. And she made that very, very clear.”
Since the attack, the turkey has returned every morning, always between 6:30 and 7:30, pacing the same area like a security guard on duty.
“I don’t go near there anymore,” he said. “If I see her, I cross the street. I’ve learned my lesson.”
Neighborhood Shock and Sidewalk Buzz
Word of the confrontation spread quickly in the neighborhood. Colon’s security footage — equal parts alarming and hilarious — made its rounds on social media and local chat groups. Reactions ranged from sympathy to outright amusement.
“Poor guy, he looked terrified,” said a neighbor who asked not to be named. “But I have to admit, I watched that video like three times. I couldn’t stop laughing.”
Others, especially parents walking kids to school in the area, expressed concern about the potential danger.
“A turkey is still a wild animal,” one local mother said. “I don’t want my son running into that thing on the way to the bus stop.”
Animal experts chimed in to explain that such behavior, while dramatic, isn’t uncommon during nesting season. Female turkeys become fiercely protective of their eggs and have been known to chase off perceived threats — even large humans.
No Plans to Relocate the Feathered Defender
Despite the chaos, Colon made it clear he has no intention of disturbing the nest. He’s adjusted his morning routine, now taking a longer route around his own driveway to avoid further incidents.
“She’s got every right to protect her babies,” he said. “It was scary, yeah, but I’m not about to mess with that.”
Still, the episode has made a lasting impression.
“My friends won’t stop teasing me,” he admitted. “Now I’m the guy who got punked by a turkey.”
What Comes Next for Staten Island’s Most Notorious Turkey?
With the turkey’s morning patrols now a regular fixture on the block, many are wondering how long the bird will stay — and whether more drama lies ahead. Once the eggs hatch, the protective behavior may increase, leading some neighbors to quietly hope animal control steps in if the situation escalates.
For now, though, the feathered intruder remains free, continuing her solitary vigil as an unlikely suburban sentinel. And for Colon, each morning is a careful dance between getting to work and not getting chased again.
“I just hope the babies hatch soon and she moves on,” he said. “Because I can’t take another week of turkey warfare in my driveway.”
A Reminder: Even in the City, Nature Doesn’t Play by the Rules
The bizarre incident serves as a hilarious yet sobering reminder that wildlife can — and does — make its presence known in the most unexpected ways, even in urban neighborhoods. For Colon and his Staten Island neighbors, it’s been a lesson in caution, respect, and maybe a little humility.
As the saying goes, you never know what the day will bring — especially when you share your street with a very angry turkey.