Wild Turkeys - Breeding
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Picture source:
Dane County Conservation League © 2001-2004
DCCL.ORG
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Wild turkeys are naturally gregarious. They move in flocks. Being non-migratory, they move slowly, covering only 4 to 5 square miles a year. Turkeys start mating in February and finish by mid-April. Nesting takes place in May.
Hens make nests in ground depressions. Nests are usually lined with grass and fallen foliage. Hens lay 8-15 eggs. The coloring of the eggs is either yellowish or speckled. Hatches appear after 28 days. After 1 year poults become adults. However, they begin to reproduce only after 2 or 3 years of age. Life span totals 10-12 years.
Only 50 % of the hatches survive. The fest of the eggs fall prey to foxes, coyotes, wolves, opossums, raccoons and snakes. Besides, hens are often forced to leave the nest because of predator disturbance or poaching by humans. Adult turkeys are fast and agile and rarely fall victims to predators.
Wild Turkeys - Habitat and Feeding
Wild turkeys live in woods interspersed with clearings, which provide grass and insects. Poults need proteins and therefore, they take insects, small lizards and spiders. Adult species feed on seeds, berries, acorns, ash seeds. Cultivated plants, such as rye, corn, oats, millet, soybeans, nuts, and fruits are also enjoyed by wild turkeys. Upon reaching adulthood, the share of consumed insects is reduced to 10 per cent.
Wild turkeys forage in oak woods, oak/hickory/pine forests. Roosting is good in softwoods and northern hardwoods. In the summertime, turkeys seldom go beyond these territories. In winter, when food is undersupplied, they move to farms and seed areas.
Wild Turkeys - Hunting Bits
Hunting wild turkeys requires a number of skills and some tactical knowledge. You must be able to imitate various noises (purring, cackling, gobbling etc.), which are produced by turkeys in their natural environment. This will help to beckon a bird within shotgun range. Hunting tactics can be determined by the quality of the landscape and weather conditions.
It is absolutely crucial to get as close to the gobbler as possible without scaring it off. If the turkey stands suddenly still, which often happens when something impedes its movement or there are hens around, you may produce quiet noise by rustling on the grass or foliage and wait out their response. It is possible to change the location or use alternative calls. If the gobbler is prancing, wait until he stops or make some audible signal to alert him.
There should not be more than one or two hunters within the hunting spot because large number of hunters impedes coordination of movements. If an unfamiliar hunter comes, cry out some greeting or word. It is much better to catch fewer wild turkeys than to get accidentally shot.
Wild Turkeys - Picture Links
Anybody Home? Wild Turkeys - Sandy Sandy's print. Wild turkeys were on the brink of extinction by the mid point of this century due to loss of habitat and over hunting
HAI - Mobbed by Wild Turkeys - Site Performing artist Mike Butler off the grounds of South Beach Psychiatric Center on Staten Island when their van was surrounded by a flock of wild turkeys.
Huron County Photo Gallery - Wild Turkeys (click on smaller image to reveal larger image). A flock of wild turkeys in a leaf-covered yard in Caseville, MI, on a late autumn afternoon.
Meleagris Gallopavo - Wild Turkey - Photos and taxonomy of this bird.
Nature Journal with Photos - Click and take a look at some wild turkeys.
Photos - These wild turkeys were found in a field near Metamora. 2004 Photo index. To
see a particular set of photos just click on the date from the list below.
Picture: Wild Turkeys. Zion National Park - Zion National
Park, part of a gallery of pictures of US National Parks.
Pictures of Wild Turkeys - Pictures of Wild Turkeys that I've taken from my home, which borders on the Horn Pond conservation land in Woburn, MA.
Robyn's Wild Turkey Page - The only known web site on wild turkeys as pets.
Sandy Sandy's Wild Turkeys - Great Blue Heron & Swan prints.
Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) - Illustrations of this bird plus personal observations about its behavior.
Wild Bird Photography Library - Turkeys - Click here to see photos of various species of birds.
Wild Texas Photos - Wild Turkeys - Photos of wild turkeys. Photographer: Gwenna Kelton
Wild Texas Photos - Wild Turkeys - Wild Turkeys. Photographer: Shannon. See all of this photographer's photos. Wild turkeys seem to be all over Choke Canyon State Park.
Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) - Photo, range maps, and facts about this bird's habitat, diet, and physical characteristics.
Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) - Scientific classification, life cycle, and natural history of this species. Includes a photo.
Wild Turkey Photo - Three Wild Turkeys Lined up Fanning Their Tails to Attract Hens.
Wild Turkey Photos and Pictures - Looking for photos of wild turkeys? We've
got a collection of wild turkey photos and pictures here for you!
Wild turkeys - Life Photo Gallery. Wild turkeys by the back door.
Wild Turkeys - Wild Turkeys near the Security Residence, December 2003. Photo Credit: Molly Fifield Murray.
