Something strange has been happening to avian species in Istanbul. Latest witnesses claim to have seen seagulls practice moonwalks on the roofs of apartment buildings.
The latest sighting has been reported from Tarlabasi, a notorious area neighborhood that houses junkies, hookers, Kurds and other social rejects.
The seagull apparently danced the moonwalk on a metal roof before turning his neck around, copying Michael Jackson's signature dance.
"I really saw it with my own eyes. I even think it winked at me. But that's not for sure," told us Jamal, a foreigner living in the area whose nationality we could not comprehend.
Mehmet Marti, an amateur bird watcher and retired seagull breeder, told us that these occurrences are of no surprise.
"Apart from being already Istanbulized," he said, "certain species, especially seagulls, have been greatly affected by the news of the passing away of pop legend Michael Jackson."
"I think it all started at his tribute celebrations, where the seagulls carefully watched humans doing his dance routine to his music. Some scientists are saying that the learning process might have been Pavlovian. But there are no definite conclusions until now," he added.
We also received information that what might have increased the seagulls' strange behavior was the blasting MJ music from certain windows in the area.
"People were playing his music on loop for 24 hours, " Mehmet said. "I think this might have affected their evolution process, more fun-seeking seagulls with wicked dance moves."
Mehmet was joking of course. It was definitely not evolution, he noted, because he does not believe in conspiracy theories.
Bread crumbs and dance moves? Pavlovian learning or evolution? Scientists, bird watchers and local residents are trying to answer all those questions while reports of more strange bird behavior keep coming in. One thing we know for sure: Michael Jackson's legacy will live on forever.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
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