MOVEMENTS AND PRODUCTIVITY OF TRANSPLANTED EASTERN WILD TURKEYS IN WEST‐CENTRAL INDIANA FARMLAND

Abstract: In spring 1981, 33 total eastern wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) were released on 2 agricultural areas that were less than 42% forested. Six birds were equipped with radio‐transmitters at each release site. Transplanted birds experienced a 50% mortality rate following release...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Brian K. Miller, P. Decker Major, Steven E. Backs
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 1985-01-01
Series:Wildlife Society Bulletin
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2328-5540.1985.tb00162.x
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849696423279329280
author Brian K. Miller
P. Decker Major
Steven E. Backs
author_facet Brian K. Miller
P. Decker Major
Steven E. Backs
author_sort Brian K. Miller
collection DOAJ
description Abstract: In spring 1981, 33 total eastern wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) were released on 2 agricultural areas that were less than 42% forested. Six birds were equipped with radio‐transmitters at each release site. Transplanted birds experienced a 50% mortality rate following release. Fall populations ranged between 22‐26 birds on each study area, a 38‐63% increase in population size following 1 breeding season. Individual geometric centers of activity for radio‐equipped birds averaged 1.2 km and 2.1 km and mean maximum straight‐line movements were 5.8 km and 3.6 km from the release site (for Coal Creek (CC) and Opossum Run (OR) study areas, respectively). Eight birds were captured and equipped with radio transmitters on CC on 21 January 1982. Juvenile turkeys raised on the area dispersed 3.5 km which was less than transplanted birds. Geometric centers of activity averaged 1.3 km from the capture site. Dispersal of both native juveniles and transplanted birds occurred in a series of multidirectional excursions centered around the release site. Bird movements and dispersal were within ranges reported in other studies, after an initial adjustment period. All radio‐equipped turkeys in the study remained within a total area of 96 km2 and 32 km2 at CC and OR respectively.
format Article
id doaj-art-450e5ddea71a4dba84906565d27f7188
institution DOAJ
issn 2328-5540
language English
publishDate 1985-01-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Wildlife Society Bulletin
spelling doaj-art-450e5ddea71a4dba84906565d27f71882025-08-20T03:19:28ZengWileyWildlife Society Bulletin2328-55401985-01-011985S123324410.1002/j.2328-5540.1985.tb00162.xMOVEMENTS AND PRODUCTIVITY OF TRANSPLANTED EASTERN WILD TURKEYS IN WEST‐CENTRAL INDIANA FARMLANDBrian K. Miller0P. Decker Major1Steven E. Backs2Purdue UniversityDept. of Forestry and Natural ResourcesWest LafayetteIN47907Indiana Department of Natural ResourcesForest Wildlife ManagementR. R. #2MitchellIN47446Indiana Department of Natural ResourcesWildlife ManagementR. R. #2MitchellIN47446Abstract: In spring 1981, 33 total eastern wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) were released on 2 agricultural areas that were less than 42% forested. Six birds were equipped with radio‐transmitters at each release site. Transplanted birds experienced a 50% mortality rate following release. Fall populations ranged between 22‐26 birds on each study area, a 38‐63% increase in population size following 1 breeding season. Individual geometric centers of activity for radio‐equipped birds averaged 1.2 km and 2.1 km and mean maximum straight‐line movements were 5.8 km and 3.6 km from the release site (for Coal Creek (CC) and Opossum Run (OR) study areas, respectively). Eight birds were captured and equipped with radio transmitters on CC on 21 January 1982. Juvenile turkeys raised on the area dispersed 3.5 km which was less than transplanted birds. Geometric centers of activity averaged 1.3 km from the capture site. Dispersal of both native juveniles and transplanted birds occurred in a series of multidirectional excursions centered around the release site. Bird movements and dispersal were within ranges reported in other studies, after an initial adjustment period. All radio‐equipped turkeys in the study remained within a total area of 96 km2 and 32 km2 at CC and OR respectively.https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2328-5540.1985.tb00162.x
spellingShingle Brian K. Miller
P. Decker Major
Steven E. Backs
MOVEMENTS AND PRODUCTIVITY OF TRANSPLANTED EASTERN WILD TURKEYS IN WEST‐CENTRAL INDIANA FARMLAND
Wildlife Society Bulletin
title MOVEMENTS AND PRODUCTIVITY OF TRANSPLANTED EASTERN WILD TURKEYS IN WEST‐CENTRAL INDIANA FARMLAND
title_full MOVEMENTS AND PRODUCTIVITY OF TRANSPLANTED EASTERN WILD TURKEYS IN WEST‐CENTRAL INDIANA FARMLAND
title_fullStr MOVEMENTS AND PRODUCTIVITY OF TRANSPLANTED EASTERN WILD TURKEYS IN WEST‐CENTRAL INDIANA FARMLAND
title_full_unstemmed MOVEMENTS AND PRODUCTIVITY OF TRANSPLANTED EASTERN WILD TURKEYS IN WEST‐CENTRAL INDIANA FARMLAND
title_short MOVEMENTS AND PRODUCTIVITY OF TRANSPLANTED EASTERN WILD TURKEYS IN WEST‐CENTRAL INDIANA FARMLAND
title_sort movements and productivity of transplanted eastern wild turkeys in west central indiana farmland
url https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2328-5540.1985.tb00162.x
work_keys_str_mv AT briankmiller movementsandproductivityoftransplantedeasternwildturkeysinwestcentralindianafarmland
AT pdeckermajor movementsandproductivityoftransplantedeasternwildturkeysinwestcentralindianafarmland
AT stevenebacks movementsandproductivityoftransplantedeasternwildturkeysinwestcentralindianafarmland