RIO GRANDE TURKEY NEST HABITAT SELECTION IN SOUTHWESTERN OREGON

Abstract: We studied nest habitat selection and characteristics of extralimital Rio Grande wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo intermedia) in southwestern Oregon to provide information about this important component of wild turkey ecology and to identify forest management strategies that will optimize...

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Main Authors: Thomas W. Keegan, John A. Crawford
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2005-01-01
Series:Wildlife Society Bulletin
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2328-5540.2005.tb00315.x
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author Thomas W. Keegan
John A. Crawford
author_facet Thomas W. Keegan
John A. Crawford
author_sort Thomas W. Keegan
collection DOAJ
description Abstract: We studied nest habitat selection and characteristics of extralimital Rio Grande wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo intermedia) in southwestern Oregon to provide information about this important component of wild turkey ecology and to identify forest management strategies that will optimize preferred nesting habitat. Between March 1989 and July 1991 we identified 126 nest sites of 55 radiomarked females that were part of a recently introduced population (<10 years) and quantified habitat at 3 spatial scales in a hierarchical approach. Only regenerating mixed‐conifer stands that were clearcut within 10 years were selected by nesting females (17% of observations, P < 0.05). Dense mature mixed conifer stands were used less than expected (P < 0.05) whereas meadows and dense sapling/pole conifer habitats were not used. Nest sites were characterized by dense horizontal screening (>93% from 0 to 30 cm above ground), understory vegetation >20 cm tall, and low shrubs covering 37 to 69% of nest sites. Land managers should implement forest management strategies that provide mosaics of relatively small regenerating stands, dense young conifer stands, and mixed hardwood/conifer woodland and savanna cover types with abundant understory vegetation including low shrubs to provide optimal nesting habitat for Rio Grande turkeys in the Oregon Cascade Range.
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spelling doaj-art-bc2a923ea7c0489199bcd71fca5459c32025-08-20T03:07:34ZengWileyWildlife Society Bulletin2328-55402005-01-012005S124525210.1002/j.2328-5540.2005.tb00315.xRIO GRANDE TURKEY NEST HABITAT SELECTION IN SOUTHWESTERN OREGONThomas W. Keegan0John A. Crawford1Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Nash Hall 104Oregon State UniversityCorvallisOR97331USADepartment of Fisheries and Wildlife, Nash Hall 104Oregon State UniversityCorvallisOR97331USAAbstract: We studied nest habitat selection and characteristics of extralimital Rio Grande wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo intermedia) in southwestern Oregon to provide information about this important component of wild turkey ecology and to identify forest management strategies that will optimize preferred nesting habitat. Between March 1989 and July 1991 we identified 126 nest sites of 55 radiomarked females that were part of a recently introduced population (<10 years) and quantified habitat at 3 spatial scales in a hierarchical approach. Only regenerating mixed‐conifer stands that were clearcut within 10 years were selected by nesting females (17% of observations, P < 0.05). Dense mature mixed conifer stands were used less than expected (P < 0.05) whereas meadows and dense sapling/pole conifer habitats were not used. Nest sites were characterized by dense horizontal screening (>93% from 0 to 30 cm above ground), understory vegetation >20 cm tall, and low shrubs covering 37 to 69% of nest sites. Land managers should implement forest management strategies that provide mosaics of relatively small regenerating stands, dense young conifer stands, and mixed hardwood/conifer woodland and savanna cover types with abundant understory vegetation including low shrubs to provide optimal nesting habitat for Rio Grande turkeys in the Oregon Cascade Range.https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2328-5540.2005.tb00315.xhabitat managementMeleagris gallopavo intermedianest characteristicsnest habitatOregonradiotelemetry
spellingShingle Thomas W. Keegan
John A. Crawford
RIO GRANDE TURKEY NEST HABITAT SELECTION IN SOUTHWESTERN OREGON
Wildlife Society Bulletin
habitat management
Meleagris gallopavo intermedia
nest characteristics
nest habitat
Oregon
radiotelemetry
title RIO GRANDE TURKEY NEST HABITAT SELECTION IN SOUTHWESTERN OREGON
title_full RIO GRANDE TURKEY NEST HABITAT SELECTION IN SOUTHWESTERN OREGON
title_fullStr RIO GRANDE TURKEY NEST HABITAT SELECTION IN SOUTHWESTERN OREGON
title_full_unstemmed RIO GRANDE TURKEY NEST HABITAT SELECTION IN SOUTHWESTERN OREGON
title_short RIO GRANDE TURKEY NEST HABITAT SELECTION IN SOUTHWESTERN OREGON
title_sort rio grande turkey nest habitat selection in southwestern oregon
topic habitat management
Meleagris gallopavo intermedia
nest characteristics
nest habitat
Oregon
radiotelemetry
url https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2328-5540.2005.tb00315.x
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