The number of wild turkeys wandering our yard has diminished markedly in the past two weeks. The deep snow and brutally harsh temperatures and wind chill may have taken their toll on the flock of 30 plus that had been around the house earlier this winter.
According to Doug Little, who is a regional biologist for the National Wild Turkey Federation, “Snow hinders turkeys’ abilities to survive when it does not have a crust layer on top for them to walk on.” The turkeys in Connecticut have been having a very difficult time walking in the deep, soft snow. This year, we have watched as one turkey makes his way through the deep snow, and the remaining birds follow in the same snowy path. It appears to be very difficult for them, with their skinny legs, to traverse well. We have seen many of these huge, ungainly turkeys fly from tree to tree to avoid walking in the snow. At one point, there were eight of these large birds perched high in our spruce tree, feasting on the remaining bittersweet berries from a vine that had grown up the tree.
A report by the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department says that when the winter is at its worst, wild turkeys will search for working farms, where they can have access to grains. We don't have a working farm anymore, but we do have bird feeders. At this point, the number of turkeys in our yard has dwindled, and they have become desperate enough to come right to our door to seek food from our feeders.
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) website advises against feeding wild turkeys, however, because they say it encourages the spread of disease and loss of wild instincts. They do offer the following advice to landowners for helping to assist the turkey population.
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"Leave a high percentage of mature (14-inch diameter or larger) mast-producing trees such as oak, hickory, beech, and ash.
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Create small, irregularly-shaped, 1- to 3-acre forest openings isolated from roads and houses. The brush in these openings should be cut every 1 to 3 years, preferably in late summer; at this time there is little chance of disturbing a nest.
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Encourage the growth of grape vines, hawthorn trees, juniper bushes, and winterberry to produce food and cover.
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It is beneficial to leave a few edge rows of corn (preferably in isolated areas) as a winter food source.
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Leave clumps of conifers for cover, such as hemlock or white pine. As a general rule, the best turkey habitat consists of 50% to 75% forestland with half of this in mature hardwood and 10% in conifers. An average of 10% to 40% of the land should be in openings, such as old abandoned fields or agricultural areas."
At this point of the winter, though, I think any food the turkeys can forage from birdfeeders or other grains available to them will go a long way toward keeping more of them alive through this very difficult season.
Photos:
- Photos 1 + 2 - Wild turkeys have taken to finding food at residential bird feeders in this rough winter weather.
- Photo 3 - Turkeys are seeming to find it easier to fly than walk in the deep snow.
Photos by Colleen Gundlach
Information Sources:
- All Points North magazine
- Connecticut DEEP