Delaware News

DNREC seeks volunteers to report Delaware sightings of wild turkeys for 2016 survey

Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control | Division of Fish and Wildlife | Date Posted: Friday, July 1, 2016



DOVER – DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife is looking for wildlife watchers and outdoor enthusiasts to assist with its 7th annual wild turkey reproduction survey, helping to identify locations where Delaware’s top game bird is successfully reproducing in the state. The data helps biologists track the health, distribution and reproductive success of the state’s wild turkey population with the goal of ensuring a sustainable harvest of this treasured and robust game species.

“Today, Delaware has a thriving wild turkey population that enables an annual turkey hunting season, but this was not always the case. The reintroduction of the wild turkey to Delaware 30 years ago, nearly 200 years after it became locally extinct, remains one of the state’s greatest wildlife restoration success stories,” said Division of Fish & Wildlife Director David Saveikis.

Beginning in early 1984, with support from the National Wild Turkey Federation and Delaware Wild Lands, Division of Fish & Wildlife biologists released 34 wild-trapped turkeys from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Vermont into Sussex and Kent counties. Reintroductions continued through the 1990s, and once the population had established a foothold in Delaware, a hunting season was opened in 1991. Today, Delaware has a healthy statewide population.

To help ensure the continued success of wild turkeys in Delaware, the Division of Fish & Wildlife needs information on the birds’ annual reproductive success. One simple and cost-effective method is for volunteers to record and report sightings of turkeys during their day-to-day activities. The 2016 survey period begins today and continues through Wednesday, Aug. 31. Upon sighting turkeys, participants are asked to record the date, location and number of adult hens, gobblers (males) and poults (young of the year) they observe. Participants are asked to submit their results by Saturday, Sept. 10.

In 2015, survey participants submitted more than 182 observations that provided valuable insight on turkey production during last year’s nesting season. Statewide, reports indicated that reproductive success was below average compared to the last few seasons. Wet spring and other conditions likely caused some first nesting attempts to fail or result in poult mortality during the first weeks after hatching. Young turkeys’ feathers develop rapidly and birds can fly at two weeks of age, which greatly improves their odds of survival. A summary of last year’s survey results, as well as a data sheet and set of instructions, is available for volunteers to download by visiting Delaware wild turkey survey.

“Every year we get new and returning volunteers to submit their data and observations, and every year the quality and quantity of the data continues to improve,” said Wildlife Biologist Joe Rogerson, Division of Fish & Wildlife. “The more people who participate and the more observations they submit from all corners of the state, adds to the science available to help manage this public trust resource.”

For more information, please contact Wildlife Biologist Joe Rogerson, at 302-735-3600.

Contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 46, No. 240

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DNREC seeks volunteers to report Delaware sightings of wild turkeys for 2016 survey

Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control | Division of Fish and Wildlife | Date Posted: Friday, July 1, 2016



DOVER – DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife is looking for wildlife watchers and outdoor enthusiasts to assist with its 7th annual wild turkey reproduction survey, helping to identify locations where Delaware’s top game bird is successfully reproducing in the state. The data helps biologists track the health, distribution and reproductive success of the state’s wild turkey population with the goal of ensuring a sustainable harvest of this treasured and robust game species.

“Today, Delaware has a thriving wild turkey population that enables an annual turkey hunting season, but this was not always the case. The reintroduction of the wild turkey to Delaware 30 years ago, nearly 200 years after it became locally extinct, remains one of the state’s greatest wildlife restoration success stories,” said Division of Fish & Wildlife Director David Saveikis.

Beginning in early 1984, with support from the National Wild Turkey Federation and Delaware Wild Lands, Division of Fish & Wildlife biologists released 34 wild-trapped turkeys from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Vermont into Sussex and Kent counties. Reintroductions continued through the 1990s, and once the population had established a foothold in Delaware, a hunting season was opened in 1991. Today, Delaware has a healthy statewide population.

To help ensure the continued success of wild turkeys in Delaware, the Division of Fish & Wildlife needs information on the birds’ annual reproductive success. One simple and cost-effective method is for volunteers to record and report sightings of turkeys during their day-to-day activities. The 2016 survey period begins today and continues through Wednesday, Aug. 31. Upon sighting turkeys, participants are asked to record the date, location and number of adult hens, gobblers (males) and poults (young of the year) they observe. Participants are asked to submit their results by Saturday, Sept. 10.

In 2015, survey participants submitted more than 182 observations that provided valuable insight on turkey production during last year’s nesting season. Statewide, reports indicated that reproductive success was below average compared to the last few seasons. Wet spring and other conditions likely caused some first nesting attempts to fail or result in poult mortality during the first weeks after hatching. Young turkeys’ feathers develop rapidly and birds can fly at two weeks of age, which greatly improves their odds of survival. A summary of last year’s survey results, as well as a data sheet and set of instructions, is available for volunteers to download by visiting Delaware wild turkey survey.

“Every year we get new and returning volunteers to submit their data and observations, and every year the quality and quantity of the data continues to improve,” said Wildlife Biologist Joe Rogerson, Division of Fish & Wildlife. “The more people who participate and the more observations they submit from all corners of the state, adds to the science available to help manage this public trust resource.”

For more information, please contact Wildlife Biologist Joe Rogerson, at 302-735-3600.

Contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 46, No. 240

image_printPrint

Related Topics:  , , , , ,


Graphic that represents delaware news on a mobile phone

Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.

Here you can subscribe to future news updates.