Spring's arrival brings with it longer days, warmer temperatures and the much anticipated gobbling of Vermont's wild turkeys. Some years, the woods are alive with this sound - as if there is a tom on every ridge. In other years, the woods seem eerily quiet. Have you ever wondered why?
The success of the annual turkey hatch is a major factor. Turkey production is highly variable and is directly linked to success of the spring nesting season. That's why Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department biologists monitor the state's wild turkey hatch by conducting brood surveys each summer.
Who monitors Vermont's Spring Wild Turkey Production?
Since 1994, The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department has conducted a wild turkey brood survey to analyze spring turkey production. Now it's your turn to assist us.
We are asking volunteers to record wild turkey sightings for the month of August, using our web-base survey. Your participation increases our sample size and gives you the chance to be involved in active turkey management.
Why are brood surveys an essential part in wild turkey management?
Brood surveys are designed to monitor annual nesting success and survival of hens and their young, which has the greatest influence on wild turkey population dynamics. The information lets us calculate many factors that are essential for sound turkey management, including average brood sizes, percentage of adult hens with young, and overall numbers of turkeys seen. This information, combined with harvest data, allows us to scientifically manage the wild turkey population--helping insure we have a thriving population now and in the future.
What to look for:
The most important information is the total number of turkeys seen and where (the town). It would be helpful if you are able to determine sex and age of the birds and whether your sighting is a brood. A brood consists of one or more hens with young. At this time of year, young of the year turkeys are normally about two-thirds the size of an adult hen. It is also important to record any sightings of adult hens seen without young.
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In this photo there are two hens (center and right) and two turkeys of unknown sex (left). |
