WILD TURKEYS are a fairly common sight in today’s world. Hikers may see them along trails. Farmers see them in pastures and open areas periodically. Hunters like to see them and try to get close each spring, a trick easier said than done. In Marshall County, wild turkey stocking from wild stock in eastern Iowa happened during the mid 1980s. A group of four toms and 11 hens were released at two sites; Grammer Grove and the big Twedt Timber north of Le Grand. From those introductions, this biggest game bird has prospered and spread throughout the entire Iowa River valley. It took a few years for them to become well established, but they got the job done. Good for them.

Now another new generation of wild turkeys is making their appearances. Breeding behavior for hens is triggered by increasing day length. Obviously tom turkeys are quite aware of the spring season also as they puff up their feathers and fan out their long tail feathers to look impressive. Toms strut their stuff to look pretty for the hens. But it is the hen that says yes or no on her time schedule. When she is ready, a Tom will be willing. Most mating take place in this part of Iowa from mid April into all of May. Once nesting activity is the top priority, hens and gobblers go their separate ways, each organized into a unique hierarchy. During the summer and fall, Toms hang out together, and the hens will gather in small groups with combined groups of fast growing poults.

Back to nesting time, hen turkeys do not really build a nest but instead find a secluded spot in moderately dense understory that allows the hen to have a view all around her. She is vulnerable to predators such as raccoons and skunks. Her nest is secretly selected and is mostly a shallow depression in the grasses and leaves already on the ground. Her egg laying will begin soon after, laying on average 10-12 eggs over a two week period. Incubation begins only after the last egg is laid. From that time onward, the eggs are warmed and turned about once per hour for the next 26-28 days.

An interesting fact is that the eggs hatch at the same time within a 24-hour period even though the first egg is much “older” than the last laid egg. Incubation allows the embryos to synchronize development at a pace that allows for hatching together. While the hen clucks and “talks” to her young while still in the egg, the hatching or piping of the egg shell is the process by which the poult uses it temporary egg tooth, a little projection on the its top bill, to scratch at the inside of the egg shell. This weakens the egg and eventually the shell breaks. A wet baby turkey emerges into the world under the dark and warm belly feathers of the hen on her nest. Soon its downy feathers will dry, an advantage for it to stay warm by itself.

Within 12-24 hours, all the young will leave the nest for good. They follow the hen wherever she goes. And as they move along grassy edges, field and timber sites, the young are pecking at bugs, finding them and eating. The biological term for being able to find food and being fully down feathered is called precocial. This first 24 hours is critical for the young to fully imprint on the hen. They learn to be turkeys by what they first see after hatching. The hen turkey is easily the best survival option they will have during their entire lives. Strong social bonds also develop within this family, a vital trait to continue to learn as they grow. Imprinting is a process that cannot be reversed, it is a one way street designed by Mother Nature.

If danger threatens, an alarm call from the hen will be made. The young instinctively crouch low and freeze. A lack of movement and their brownish spotted downy feathers will allow them to be well camouflaged. Avoiding detection is the first order of business. They may also run and hide under the hens wings. After one week, the young will be continually feeding as they move, dusting themselves as the hen demonstrates how to do it, and learning to groom themselves. By the end of their second week of life, they will attempt to fly a bit. At the end of week three, roosting in trees off the ground will become standard procedure. Tree roosting removes them from ground predators.

Roosting is another important developmental step as the acquisition of juvenile plumage takes place. And the diet begins to shift from insects to a mixture of bugs and plant matter. If poults live to the sixth week of life, they have a much better chance of surviving to adulthood. At 14 weeks, young males and females take on the appearance of their sex. Separate pecking orders begin to form although the hen still dominates. By fall time, the pecking order is established and young flocks are ready to join the social organization of the surrounding population. At winter time, wild turkeys separate into age and sex classes, and go about surviving a long cold spell of cold, snow and reduced food sources.

Turkey facts: An adult turkey has about 5,500 feathers of all types. Eighteen long tail feathers make up the fan of a tom turkey. Turkeys can run at 25 mph. They can fly 55 mph. Young turkeys are called poults. Juvenile males are called jakes while juvenile females are called jennies. A group of turkeys is called a rafter or a flock. Flock sounds better to this scribe. Rafters are for holding up roofs on houses.

The NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION is a conservation organization dedicated to this wild game bird and the habitats it takes for its survival. Founded in 1973, there are NWTF organizations in all 50 states, Canada and Mexico and 14 foreign countries. This motto – Save the Habitat – is what they are all about. And saving the hunt goes right along with it, placing precious dollars at work on the land. NWTF has helped save the hunt by creating 1.5 million new hunters who embrace the outdoors and conservation’s legacy. With the help of volunteers and private/public partnerships, NWTF have invested over $412 million since 1973 on more than 17 million acres of land. There are about 2,000 chapters of NWTF to work with states and provinces on habitat projects. NWTF members assist with Hunting Heritage programs, JAKES for young hunters, and Wheelin’ Sportsmen and Women in the Outdoors. Hunter education support is also a big role they support.

Another fact: Hunters pay 80 percent of all costs associated with wildlife related conservation programs through license sales and excise taxes on sporting arms, ammunition and archery equipment. Yet 100 percent of the people that enjoy the outdoors need to thank a hunter, or better yet, put their interest where it belongs with healthy financial support in state DNR programs, even if they do not hunt. Buy a hunting and/or fishing license, a Federal Migratory Bird Stamp, or make contributions to land acquisition programs where habitat for all kinds of wildlife will be the long range goal.

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A turkey sighting survey will take place this month and through August. Iowa DNR wildlife bureau staff would like to enlist the help of outdoors folks who may see turkeys this summers while out and about. Just keep an eye out for turkeys and if you see one or some, try to determine if it is and adult female, adult male or if poults are present. Count the number of young, make a note of the date and county in which you saw them, and report the sightings to this web site: www.surveygizmo.com/s3/2115256/Iowa-Wild-Turkey-Reports. Or you may contact directly Peter Fritzell, Iowa DNR, at 515-432-2823.

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Today is a National Holiday, a day to mark the occasion of Independence of the United States of America. It is a great time to reflect on the greatness of America. And it is also a time to relax, renew, enjoy the outdoors with family and friends. Summer fun can stay fun if one keeps their wits about them. Be safe instead of sorry. This scribe got a chuckle long ago when these words were uttered by persons unknown: He who goes forth on the third to purchase and then drink a fifth on the fourth may not be among the living on the sixth.

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Garry Brandenburg is a graduate of Iowa State University with BS degree in Fish & Wildlife Biology. He is the retired director of the Marshall County Conservation Board. Contact him at P.O. Box 96, Albion, Iowa 50005