Big Bird Watching: Wild Turkey-Spotting Citizen Scientists Wanted

NEW YORK — Would you like to be a citizen scientist for a month? The DEC needs your help tracking wild turkeys in your "neck of the woods" this August.

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Segos is encouraging New Yorkers to help in the state's annual survey of wild turkeys so that the DEC can determine the productivity of turkey populations.

"Citizen scientists provide important data that helps our biologists examine how factors such as weather, predation, and habitat conditions during the breeding and brood-rearing seasons impact turkey survival," Commissioner Seggos said. "Without the assistance of our volunteers, the task of monitoring turkey populations statewide would be far more difficult, and we encourage participation this summer to help enhance our knowledge of turkeys in New York."

Turkey populations in New York peaked in the late 1990s and early 2000s. However, over the past ten years, turkey productivity has consistently been below average, leading to lower populations.

Since 1996, the DEC has conducted the annual Summer Wild Turkey Sighting Survey to track wild turkey populations and estimate the number of wild turkey poults (young of the year) per hen statewide. Weather, predators and habitats during the breeding and brood-rearing seasons can affect nest success, hen survival and poult survival. This index allows DEC to gauge reproductive success over time and in different parts of New York. The user-submitted data will also help wildlife managers predict future turkey populations and harvest opportunities for the coming fall season and subsequent spring season.

To submit turkey observations, citizen scientists can use the DEC's online form. Survey participants can record the sexes and ages for all flocks of wild turkey that they encounter. They will also be able to record the location on a map of where the wild turkeys were spotted, along with any additional observations.

Additional information, including results from previous summer surveys, can be found on the DEC's website:

• Summer Wild Turkey Sighting Survey
• Citizen Science Initiatives
• DEC Regional Office Contact Information