Now that Thanksgiving is over, our Long Island wild turkeys can relax. Does it surprise you to know we have wild turkeys on Long Island? And you may wonder how a large ground-dwelling, non-migratory bird like turkeys survives a cold New York winter.
It turns out that cold, by itself, is not a major problem for turkeys. Feathers make terrific insulation, and a turkey has more than 5,000 of them. Even without food, turkeys can survive in zero-degree weather for about two weeks. If they have enough food, they can survive pretty much indefinitely in cold weather.
And luckily for them, turkeys can eat almost anything, including insects, worms, snails, seeds, fruit, and nuts. The largest part of their diet is usually nuts, especially acorns, beechnuts, and hickory nuts. In most winters, there are ample supplies of nuts on the forest floor.
Turkeys are vulnerable when deep snow stays on the ground for weeks at a time and covers their favorite feeding places. This condition doesn’t happen on Long Island very often, so in most winters turkey survival is probably high. In fact, a population study of turkeys in Western Massachusetts showed higher survival for turkeys in winter than at other times of year, such as the spring nesting period, when predators take a high toll.
Human activities play a much bigger role than harsh winters in controlling turkey populations. Hunting made native turkeys essentially extinct in New York by the mid-1800s. Another major factor was that agriculture had removed most of the mixed forest/field habitat they prefer.
As large-scale agriculture moved west, and forests began to grow back in New York, turkeys from Pennsylvania colonized our state, which then inspired a very successful program of reintroduction by New York state conservation agencies. Today there are wild turkey flocks found all over the state, including Long Island. If you see wild turkeys, you can take part in citizen science by reporting it at dec.ny.gov/animals/48732.html.
Wild turkeys have also been established in most other states, including states where they aren’t native. Wherever you see them, it can be a thrill to see a flock of these wild and stately birds. Watch for them in fields next to forests. Although they usually walk, turkeys can fly, and they roost in trees at night, so if you’re looking for them at dusk, don’t forget to look up.
And don’t worry about the wild turkeys in winter. Unless we get snow cover deeper than about a foot, and lasting for more than two weeks, they’ll be just fine.
Tom Pelletier, CEED Board
