TURKEY PRODUCTIVITY AND HABITAT USE ON SOUTH TEXAS RANGELANDS1
Abstract Productivity and habitat use of Rio Grande turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo intermedia) were evaluated from May 1976 through November 1977 on the Welder Wildlife Refuge and the Rooke Ranch near Sinton, Texas. Turkey productivity ranged from 0.5 poults:hen in 1976 to 1.2 poults:hen in 1977. High...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
1980-01-01
|
| Series: | Wildlife Society Bulletin |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2328-5540.1980.tb00129.x |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| Summary: | Abstract Productivity and habitat use of Rio Grande turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo intermedia) were evaluated from May 1976 through November 1977 on the Welder Wildlife Refuge and the Rooke Ranch near Sinton, Texas. Turkey productivity ranged from 0.5 poults:hen in 1976 to 1.2 poults:hen in 1977. Higher productivity in 1977 may have been related to heavy late summer‐early fall rainfall in 1976 which contributed to an early spring green‐up, resulting in the early onset of nesting behavior. Average hatching dates were 6 June 1976 and 30 May 1977. From the mating season to the period of winter flock stability, turkeys decreased their use of the open savannah habitat and increased their use of the dense riparian‐woodland habitat. During the mating season, turkeys frequently used mowed pastures and roads for strutting, especially areas adjacent to unmowed brushy cover. Observations of lone, presumably nesting, hens during April and May indicated that their habitat preference differed from the remainder of the turkey population. Brush clearing of a mesquite‐bristlegrass pasture immediately attracted turkey broods which intensively used the disturbed sites for feeding during July and August. During September and October, the turkey population underwent a “shuffling” period as poults and hens combined into larger flocks, and turkeys returning to the Refuge from summer ranges joined the resident flocks or formed new flocks. During the winter months, over 60% of the turkey observations were in the dense riparian‐woodland habitat which bordered the Arkansas River. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 2328-5540 |