Environment DEC
From the January 2008 issue
New Year Brings Third Season of Wild Turkey Studies
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is preparing for the third season of two large-scale wild turkey research projects. The first project is a turkey-banding program, done in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Game Commission, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Pennsylvania State University and the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF). The second project is a statewide winter flock survey. These studies will provide information that DEC biologists need to help guide future management efforts for this popular game bird.
The turkey banding program will allow DEC to monitor the turkey harvest
Turkey Banding Program
The banding program begins this month, when DEC staff and cooperators from NWTF will launch a statewide effort to capture wild turkeys and fit them with metal leg bands bearing a toll-free phone number for reporting. The objective of the study is to examine hunter harvest rates, turkey survival rates and harvest reporting rates across the state. Banding will be done on public and private lands north of New York City from January through March. DEC is looking for landowners who will allow birds on their land to be trapped, banded and released. No relocation of the birds will occur.
Turkey Flock Monitoring
DEC also will continue collecting data on winter turkey flocks across the state to assess feasibility of a long-term population monitoring program. DEC hopes to identify several locations in every county of New York where turkeys can be counted each winter to monitor population changes. Last winter, observers documented more than 500 flocks throughout the state, including several recently established flocks on Long Island.
In preparation for both studies, DEC is asking landowners, hunters, bird watchers and interested participants to report winter turkey flock locations anywhere in New York State. Observations of turkey flocks (even a few birds) during mid-December through March can be reported to the project coordinator for a particular DEC region.
More Information
For more information on either project, please contact the project coordinator for your region, or contact DEC by e-mail at fwwildlf@gw.dec.state.ny.us. Please write "Turkey Study" in the subject line.
