A Thanksgiving success story: Wild turkeys, once hunted to oblivion in Illinois, have spread across the Chicago area
Last winter, residents of north suburban Winthrop Harbor joined online to follow the exploits of seven wild turkeys dubbed The Magnificent Seven. The birds strutted through neighborhood yards and roosted in nearby oak trees. Locals shared pictures on Facebook and marveled at the birds’ beauty.
This year, if the birds return, officials plan a “turkey tracker” on the village website, to let people know where to spot the animals.
Turkeys have been seen all around the Chicago area, watchers say, including at McCormick Place and in Beverly on the South Side, Evanston, South Holland, Bull Valley and along the Fox River.