Rochelle Baker, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter CANADA鈥橲 NATIONAL OBSERVER

A Quadra Island sensation recently snarled rush hour traffic, bringing two pickups and an e-bike to screeching halt at the four way stop, so young fans could get some one-and-one time with a local legend.

Bob the Turkey was out and about, eager for handouts.

Maria and Eden Joy Shoichate, aged 15 and 9, were giddy after their chance encounter with the small B.C. island鈥檚 rising star one recent morning.

鈥淚 was like, `Mom! Mom! Look there鈥檚 a wild turkey!,鈥� Maria told Canada鈥檚 National Observer鈥檚 reporter on scene.

鈥淵ou almost caused a car crash,鈥� observed Eden Joy.

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 cause a car crash,鈥� Maria said.

鈥淎lmost!鈥� Eden Joy insisted.

Bob played it coy, taking his time before accepting the piece of granola bar offered to him and posing for a photo with his fans.

Bob is a star with a growing fan base who actively track his whereabouts and well-being, sharing sightings and gossip on the local Facebook page.

Though he鈥檚 a wild breed, Bob was raised in a domesticated flock and is a long-time regular on the island circuit. Come spring, he turns up in people鈥檚 yards, the ferry terminal, cafe and the small village strip mall 鈥� his poignant throaty gobbling echoing across lawns, woods and down country roads.

But his fame soared to new heights this season after his owner Karen Knighswander posted Bob鈥檚 tragic 鈥渨ings of freedom鈥� origin story on Facebook and made a public plea for people to be kind to their beloved wild turkey.

Known as Mister Turkey, aka Vincent von Stockpot the Third, before acquiring his stage name, Bob is a family member and welcome to return anytime to the Nighswander鈥檚 20-acre homestead, Karen said. Bob often returns from his walkabouts of his own accord, especially when the farm鈥檚 blueberries are ripe, which Karen feeds to him by hand.

鈥淎nd, like any good man, he often comes home for dinner,鈥� she said.

Bob began to wander two years ago when he lost the last of his flock and his 鈥渓ady love鈥� to eagles. Forlorn, each mating season, Bob escapes in a fruitless search for a girlfriend.

In the past, the Nighswander family, acting on intelligence from islanders, mounted elaborate recovery efforts to trap Bob and bring him home.

鈥淲e didn鈥檛 want him getting in people鈥檚 gardens, because he could make a real mess, and we didn鈥檛 want people running him down or trying to catch him,鈥� Karen said.

Bob is incredibly strong and wiley, and his wings can be dangerous, she added. The turkey can be a real handful to catch, so this year his owners decided to let him do his own thing unless he caused problems.

Though he鈥檚 vulnerable to being eaten by wolves or other wildlife, Bob has chosen to live his life on the edge, on his own terms, and the family respects his wishes, she said.

The Nighswander family is pleased people are treating Bob respectfully, because his well-being is very important to them, she stressed.

Karen is also delighted at Bob鈥檚 folk-hero status. The turkey is a hit with tourists when he parades around the community green next to the cafe, where he reportedly is a great favourite of the pastry chef.

In addition to constant reports of his whereabouts, there鈥檚 a community poll about how to make Bob鈥檚 life more awesome.

Top suggestions to date include:

Capitalizing on his rising fame, Bob has also formed a band, inspiring a series of catchy AI musical earworms such as the reggae single, 鈥淚 ain鈥檛 no Jive Turkey鈥�, or the sizzling bluegrass ditty, 鈥淕obble in the Wild.鈥�, with its catchy chorus:

鈥淲ith a gobble so grand / He鈥檚 the king of the island in this crazy land.鈥�

Like any shining comet, Karen knows Bob, already elderly at 8-years-old, is destined to fade and pass into the heavens.

She thinks maybe she should commission a bronze statue of the beloved bird for his fans when he does.

Until then, she said, 鈥淚鈥檓 glad he鈥檚 living his best life and sharing himself with the community.鈥�

Bob the Turkey has requested our project remain undisclosed until today!Bob鈥檚 band just dropped this track about his journeys on Quadra Island and the locals that love him. 鈫� technautica鈥攕ounds

Bob鈥檚 last confirmed sighting was the afternoon of July 21.

鈥�