Syracuse.com - DEC seeks volunteers to help with surveys of wild turkeys and ring-necked pheasants

[HuntingNY-News]

Citizen science efforts such as these provide our wildlife managers with invaluable data and give people the opportunity to partner with DEC to help monitor New York's wildlife resources.

The following is a DEC press release:

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Joe Martens today encouraged New Yorkers to participate in surveys for two popular game birds: wild turkeys and ring-necked pheasants.

“Citizen science efforts such as these provide our wildlife managers with invaluable data and give people the opportunity to partner with DEC to help monitor New York’s wildlife resources,” Commissioner Martens said. “I encourage you to take the time to record your observations of turkeys or pheasants while exploring the outdoors or driving through the state’s beautiful landscapes this summer.”

Summer Wild Turkey Sighting Survey

Since 1996, DEC has conducted the Summer Wild Turkey Sighting Survey to estimate the number of wild turkey poults (young of the year) per hen statewide. Weather, predation, and habitat conditions during the breeding and brood-rearing seasons can significantly impact nest success, hen survival, and poult survival. This index allows DEC to gauge reproductive success and predict fall harvest potential.

During the month of August, survey participants record the sex and age of all flocks of wild turkeys observed during a participant’s normal travel. Those interested in assisting DEC with the turkey survey can download a Summer Wild Turkey Sighting Survey form from the DEC website. Detailed instructions are available with the survey form. Survey cards can also be obtained by contacting a local regional DEC office, calling (518) 402-8886, or by e-mailing [email protected] (type “Turkey Survey” in the subject line).

Monitoring Pheasants in the Genesee Valley Focus Area

Since 1945, farmers in the 13 counties that comprise the Lake Plains of New York have partnered with DEC to help survey wild pheasant populations and this effort will continue in the newly established “Pheasant Habitat Focus Area” in the Genesee Valley (portions of Livingston, Genesee, Wyoming and Monroe counties) see the DEC web site.

This new focus area was created as a part of DEC’s ten-year management plan for ring-necked pheasants. The goal of this focus area is to concentrate the efforts of public and private habitat conservation programs to benefit pheasants and other grassland birds. This survey assists DEC to monitor pheasant populations and evaluate the success of habitat management efforts in the focus area.

DEC requests that farmers in Livingston, Genesee, Wyoming or Monroe counties, consider participating in the Farmer-Pheasant Inventory. No special observations are required; just those made during normal spring and summer farming activities. Farmers interested in participating should contact DEC at (518) 402-8886 or by e-mailing [email protected] (type “Farmer-Pheasant Inventory” in the subject line).

Those that do not farm but would like to contribute pheasant observations from Livingston, Genesee, Wyoming and Monroe counties are asked to join the Summer Pheasant Sighting Survey. During the month of August, survey participants record the sex and age of all pheasants observed during normal travel. A<a href="http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/wildlife_pdf/summerpheasantsurvey.pdf"> survey form is or by calling (518) 402-8886.

For more information on Citizen Science initiatives with DEC, see: Citizen Science Initiatives on the DEC Web site.

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog