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The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources' Fish & Wildlife Department is seeking help in determining this spring's turkey nesting success by asking volunteers to record wild turkey sightings during August using the department's web-based survey.
Turkey production is highly variable and is directly linked to success of the spring nesting season. State wildlife biologists have been monitoring Vermont's wild turkey hatch by conducting brood surveys each summer since 1994.
"Brood surveys are designed to monitor annual nesting success and survival of hens and their young," explained State Wildlife Biologist Doug Blodgett. "By involving the public in this survey, we increase our sample size and give people the opportunity to participate in active turkey management."
The department is looking for information on the number of turkeys sighted and where they were seen, the sex and age of the birds if possible, and whether the sighting is of a brood. A brood consists of one or more hens with young.
"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," added Blodgett. "This information, combined with harvest data, allows us to scientifically manage Vermont's wild turkey population."
To learn more about the survey, go to the Fish & Wildlife website: www.vtfishandwildlife.com and click on 'Wild Turkey Brood Survey' under 'Items of Special Interest.'
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