Wild Turkey Terms

Posted on November 27, 2013 by Hillary T.

courtesy USFWSAs Thanksgiving fast approaches, the thoughts of many Americans turn to the humble turkey. Our modern domesticated turkeys (the ones we generally eat) have something of a reputation for being foolish and clumsy birds. Their wild cousins, however, roam the woods and towns of Massachusetts even today, and these birds are fast, wary, and remarkably complex.

Matt Kamm, from Mass Audubon’s Bird Conservation program, gives the scoop on wild turkey terminology.

Gobble: When looking to attract females, males display by strutting, puffing out their feathers, and, of course, gobbling. Young turkeys of both sexes gobble, but as they mature, males become the more frequent gobblers.

The gobble itself is purely a vocal sound, just like crowing in roosters. Turkeys gobble in two peaks each year: early spring when flocks go their separate ways and males stake out territory, and late spring when the hens that bred earlier are nesting while the unbred hens are looking for mates.

Snood & Beard: Males develop a fleshy, retractable feature called a snood, which overhangs the bill, and a bundle of dark feathers that hang down below the neck called a beard. Female turkeys also show these features, but they are less well-developed.

Poults: After a female has mated, she digs a scrape in the dirt or leaves and lays about a dozen eggs, which she must incubate for 26-27 days before they finally hatch! Once the poults (turkey chicks) do hatch, they are able to run around and forage for themselves after 24 hours, although the mother still feeds them for some time.

Jakes: Young male turkeys are known as jakes. They strike out from their families during autumn of the year that they’re hatched, while young females will often stay with their mothers until the following spring.

Plumage: Turkeys in the wild are well-equipped for avoiding predators. Their dark, mottled feathers (known as plumage) allows them to hide effectively in dense undergrowth, and even when discovered they are fast runners.

Roost: While turkeys cannot fly for long periods, they have been clocked at over 50 mph in flight and are more than capable of escaping into the highest branches of the forest canopy, where groups of turkeys will gather in a roost for the night to stay out of the reach of ground predators.

Repatriation: Wild turkeys may be common today, but around 1850, no wild turkeys could be found anywhere in Massachusetts. In addition to hunting pressure, the loss of wooded areas to farmland also drove the turkeys out. The turkeys that we see today are the result of a successful repatriation program, in which turkeys from other areas (such as Pennsylvania) were released in Massachusetts to establish themselves once again.

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us here at Mass Audubon! Gobble Gobble…

Photo via US Fish & Wildlife Service

A Stream Set Free

Posted on November 25, 2013 by Rosemary

After months of preparation—and a nail-biting pause during the government shutdown—Mass Audubon and its partners have removed a deteriorating bridge and dam at Canoe Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary in Pittsfield. Now Sackett Brook flows wild and free, alongside a newly planted forest. The project is good news for wildlife, and it’s also fun to watch:

About the Dam

The dam at Sackett Brook was built in the 1930s to make a private reservoir for swimming and fishing. The altered streamflow eroded riverbanks in places, and caused sediment to build up in others, impairing the quality of the brook for plants and animals.

Fast-forward to recent years; the dam was now obsolete and the bridge was in poor condition, and, said Berkshire Wildlife Sanctuaries director René Laubach, these structures had “disrupted habitats for 80 years”. It was time to set Sackett Brook free.

Restoring the Stream

Removing a dam—even a little one—is no small task. To complete the Sackett Brook Restoration Project, Mass Audubon worked with state and local partners, and funding was provided by the City of Pittsfield. Timing was important: the structure had to be removed before wood turtles, a state-listed rare species, settled into the brook to overwinter.

The project was planned for October 2013. In late September, the final federal permit was on the way. But then came the government shutdown. Mass Audubon and its partners waited nervously; the window of opportunity was rapidly closing. Fortunately, the Army Corps of Engineers came through in time to begin the project in earnest. Heavy construction was done by October 29, and a new streamside forest was planted in early November.

Benefits for Wildlife—and Beyond

The restored brook and forest will provide habitat for birds and other wildlife. It’s hoped that the free-flowing water, shaded by new trees, will support a healthy population of wood turtles, and enable the brook to stay cooler even as the climate changes.

The project helps fisheries, too. Sackett Brook has several trout species, including native brook trout. With the dam gone, these species can now travel freely throughout the watershed. White sucker, slimy sculpin, and small fish like dace will also benefit from this new freedom.

It’s a big win for students, too. Mass Audubon also worked with nearby schools to use the project as a teaching tool. Elementary students explored the stream’s ecology, and high school students recorded before-and-after footage. Armed with newfound knowledge, they will help encourage a healthy future for all our waterways.