The population of wild turkeys has grown rapidly in New Hampshire in the past decade, and the state hopes people will use an online database to help keep track of it.
The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department is asking people who see groups of turkeys with young through Aug. 31 to report it online.
The reports of broods, the term for adults with young birds, are an important measure of reproduction rate and success. Reports of adult male turkeys are not being requested at this time.
“We get reports from all over the state through this survey, adding to the important information biologists gather on turkey productivity, distribution, abundance, turkey brood survival and the timing of nesting and hatching,” said Fish and Game Wildlife Programs Supervisor Kent Gustafson.
In 2015, summer brood survey participants reported seeing 2,202 broods, a record number. The average hatch date statewide was June 19. The term “brood” refers to a family group of young turkeys accompanied by a hen. New Hampshire hens generally begin laying eggs sometime from mid-April to early May and complete their clutch of about 12 eggs in early to mid-May. Incubation lasts for 28 days, and most eggs hatch from late May to mid-June.
If unhatched turkey eggs are destroyed or consumed by predators, hens often lay a replacement clutch of eggs that hatch late June through late July.
Many factors can affect turkey productivity in any given year. Young turkeys are extremely sensitive to cool temperatures and rain, both because it can harms them and because it reduces the population of insects that are a critical source of nutrition for young turkeys.
Since spring weather is highly variable, survival of the annual hatch of wild turkeys is also highly variable.
Turkey populations depend on a large annual influx of young turkeys each year. A large sample of turkey brood observations collected throughout the summer can provide insight into the size of what biologists call the “graduating class” of turkeys that will become adults.
Biologists are especially interested in getting more reports of turkey broods in the three northernmost New Hampshire counties (Coos, Carroll and Grafton).
To learn more about the survey, visit wildnh.com/surveys/turkeybrood.html.
