Summer Flock Survey

[Waterfowlist]

Has anyone ever participated in this?  Just saw it on the DEC site...

Summer Wild Turkey Sighting Survey

Wild turkey hen with poults

DEC conducts the Summer Wild Turkey Sighting Survey annually during the month of August to estimate the average number of wild turkey poults (young of the year) per hen statewide and among major geographic regions of the State. This index allows us to gauge reproductive success in a given year and allows us to predict fall harvest potential. Weather, predation, and habitat conditions during the breeding and brood-rearing seasons can all significantly impact nest success, hen survival, and poult survival.

During the month of August, Department staff and volunteers record the sex and age composition of all flocks of wild turkeys observed during normal travel. This survey is a great way to partner with DEC to help monitor this popular game bird.

If you would like to participate, print or download a Summer Wild Turkey Sighting Survey form (296 KB pdf) to record your observations. Detailed instructions can be found with the data sheet.

Completed survey forms can be mailed to: Turkey Survey, NYSDEC, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-4754

OR you can submit your observations on-line!:

Summer Wild Turkey Sighting On-line Report _{(link leaves DEC website)}

Please submit your observations by mailing us the completed survey form OR by entering them on-line, not both. Multiple reports of the same flock will bias the results.

 

http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/48732.html

 

[turkeyfeathers]

I've noticed and hearing of great grasshopper population this year. I haven't been rooting around the woods to much but thinking the dry spring and bug sources has to help. Guess we'll see in 2 years or so. Crossing fingers 

[landtracdeerhunter]

I keep track and participate.  The poults here, are very small this year. July looked promising with good hatch counts. I now see adult hens grouping up with very few, very small poults.

[ANTLERS]

Nice size poult in New Suffolk LI.

[Doewhacker]

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Edited August 25, 2016 by Doewhacker

[landtracdeerhunter]

During this drought, the area ponds have all but dried up, so I have been filling old troughs with water. I have found turkey droppings near the site, so I hope it helped.

[turkeyfeathers]

On ‎08‎/‎23‎/‎2016 at 3:55 PM, ANTLERS said:

Nice size poult in New Suffolk LI.

Funky colored birds

[sweet old bill]

I had 3 female turkey and 18 baby pass by the house yesterday evening. Boy did they look great.

[growalot]

I was very pleased with this:

[sweet old bill]

they came by again last night. the cat saw them and was going nuts . It must be we had a dray and warm nesting time this year and I bet we will all have a better turkey season this fall.

[growalot]

Grasshopper hatch was huge this year...That will be a big help for winter survival...They have had lots to eat.

[landtracdeerhunter]

Been seeing two adult hens with three poults daily now.  I believe one has two poults, the other one. The hen with the two will give the one poult a good peck if it gets to close to her. Still the size of quail.

Plenty to eat and drink, now with these rains. Will help what we got.

[growalot]

Literally 5 acres of leaf litter was torn up last night or this morning...5 solid acres...I am praying it's turkey, but we had thousands of grackles show up the other day. Angel and I moved them through the woods like we were herding cattle..lol ...Not sure what has attracted them...cherries,hophorn,the beech....I'm hoping bugs, that would make their presence a bit more tolerable.