This funny video of a male turkey challenging its reflection in a window was recently filmed at Bartram’s Garden. This is a great time of the year to spend more time at the garden, located at 54th St. and Lindbergh Blvd. (you can drive, bike or hop on the #36 Trolley) whether it is bird watching, nature walks or special events. Go to Bartramsgarden.org for more information.

Our reader Deirdre, who has a keen eye for nature in the area (check out her Instagram account @deirdrelovestrees) spotted this cool “screaming tree wearing a crown of blossoms” at 41st and Pine Streets.

Hamilton Mansion.

Great news for the historic Woodlands Cemetery and Mansion and all those who participated in their latest ambitious fundraising effort of raising $218,000 to restore the Hamilton Stable, the only remaining outbuilding from the 18th century.

“The Woodlands community contributed over $218,000 to restore the stable’s façade – which means you helped secure an extraordinary $612,000 challenge grant to restore the [Hamilton] Mansion from the William B. Dietrich Foundation,” reads a recent message by The Woodlands Executive Director Jessica Baumert. The McLean Contributionship, Connelly Foundation, and Wunsch Foundation also provided generous support of this project.

Photos courtesy of The Woodlands.

In a addition to the restoration of the Hamilton Mansion and Stable, the re-construction of the Cryptoporticus has resumed. The contractors have been numbering each brick before removing them from the sagging arch (pictured right). Then, the 18th century bricks will be put back in their original location using a mortar.

The Woodlands also announced some new and annual programs taking place this spring (the Woodlands is located at 40th and Woodland).

Sunday, April 12 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Your West Philadelphia House: How old is it? Who lived there?

Join The University City Historical Society at The Woodlands for a “how to” workshop, and learn to research the history of your own West Philadelphia house! Uncover your house’s story!Cost: Free to members of University City Historical Society or The Woodlands, $10 for non-members. Make your reservations here.  Continue Reading

More West Philly Local readers had encounters with wild turkeys roaming the streets this week and sent us photos. This one was spotted in front of the Penn Vet School yesterday.

Photo by Michelle Lorraine Eckert.

And here’s another sighting earlier this week near the trolley tunnel.

Photo by Jeannette Bennicelli.

Bartram’s Garden, a home to many wild turkeys over the years, has posted this message on their Facebook page after learning about turkey sightings on West Philly streets:

It appears as though the Bartram turkeys have expanded their search for a suitable mate onto the streets of West Philly. Not sure that they’ll find the kind of turkey they’re looking for on Baltimore Avenue or at the 40th Street trolley portal, but mating season does crazy things to a lonely turkey.

By the way, for those who don’t know yet, the West Philly turkey has its own Twitter account, which appeared in 2013 after the first sightings were reported here:

Jesus. West Philadelphians turn into paparazzi when they see a turkey wandering in the middle of the street. I was just going to @Wawa

— West Philly Turkey (@WPhillyTurkey) March 26, 2015

Photo by Jennifer Wegner.

Wild turkeys are back in the hood! A reader spotted this one this morning on Baltimore Avenue. Another reader reported a sighting at the 40th Street trolley portal. These guys always seem to show up in the spring. The previous sightings in the area were reported in the spring of 2013.

UPDATE: The photo below was taken this morning at 38th and Woodland.

Hey, Watch Out Dude! (Twitter photo @engelser)

There was a great hawk sighting yesterday morning near 43rd and Larchwood. The bird felt pretty comfortable on a fence and seemed completely unfazed by the people gawking at him/her.

By the way, the hawk positioned himself awfully close to a Tom Wolf sign.