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Photo by Doug Little |
NWTF's Long Island longbeard projects
The NWTF working on turkey research solo? Fuhgetaboutit!
Who would have thought that important wild turkey research would take place in Long Island, N.Y.? The NWTF recently teamed up with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's Bureau of Wildlife Agency to conduct a turkey leg banding research project on America's most populated island.
Project Team and Partnerships
The leg banding project took place at the state wildlife agency's Ridge Hunter check station and the Brookhaven National Laboratory, a U.S. Department of Energy facility. Both sites are in Suffolk County and border areas that are open to hunting. Staff members of the Brookhaven Lab were instrumental in allowing the NWTF and wildlife agency team to gain access to the private research facility.
According to NWTF Regional Biologist Doug Little, it would be very difficult to complete projects like these without the support and cooperation of other agencies and partnerships.
"A great deal of work goes into the planning and completion of leg banding projects," said Little, who also cited the tremendous help provided by Brookhaven Lab staff members Tim Green and Jennifer Higbie and project leader Chip Hamilton of New York's Regional DEC office. Other key members of the team included Regional Wildlife Manager Michelle Gibbons and the DEC statewide upland game bird biologist, Mike Schiavone.
"This experienced team along with funding from the NWTF New York State Chapter and NYS Wildlife Agency helped bring this project to life," Little said.
The NWTF's project goals
Wild turkeys are live trapped from designated bait sites and identifiable leg bands are attached to each bird. All turkeys are documented, recorded and released back into the same area they were originally trapped. The equipment of choice for live capturing turkeys is the air cannon net system, or NetBlaster. The team sets up bait stations to lure turkeys into range and a trapper presses the battery-operated switch to fire the nets. It's a safe and ethical technique that allows the team to capture multiple birds at once.
Little and the rest of the project team feel this leg banding study will provide crucial information for regional management decisions. The study enables wildlife biologists to assess population estimates, survival rates, harvest statistics and estimated travel distances between trap sites. Wildlife managers can use this information to accurately set harvest limits and evaluate population numbers within a particular region.
Project and Hunting Predictions
In 2009, hunters were able to participate in the first fall turkey hunting season on Long Island. During the five-day season, hunters tagged and bagged approximately 100 wild turkeys. Hunter participation met expectations, but hunting pressure was somewhat limited due to the coinciding upstate deer season also in session. As a result, a fall either-sex season was obviously a wise choice made by the state wildlife agency. It is estimated that a healthy flock of more than 3,000 birds can be found in this small region.
Area biologists also feel the quality of hunting is already good throughout Suffolk County. However, the leg banding project is expected to lead to more accurate management decisions, which will ultimately improve hunting opportunities that are available. Hunters can expect to find a good mixture of oak and pine timber stands with gentle topography. Furthermore, there are also numerous public land hunting areas with clearly marked trails that provide easy access across Long Island. — Travis Faulkner