Editor’s note: This new column will help us understand wild turkeys, which are of great interest to many gamekeepers. It will cover seasonal subjects like the biology, behavior, peculiarities, and habitat management of turkeys from two angles: the author’s field observations and those of wild turkey specialist and researcher, Dr. Michael J. Chamberlain, PhD. Terrell Distinguished Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Management at the University of Georgia’s Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources
Huge winter flocks (think deer “yarding”) are not uncommon in colder climes. I observed a flock of over 150 roosted birds from Kentucky dispersing over a hardwood hillside, scuttling and gliding into a sheltered valley beneath. What an incredible and noisy affair. The same occurred in Tennessee and Iowa. The here shows part of a large Alabama winter flock of 66 birds. There was forage available, but with all the interaction going on, there had to be other reasons—safety in numbers, a social aspect, food availability, weather protection—for these large gatherings of turkeys. Chamberlain: “It’s thought that those massive winter flocks provide safety in numbers, but there’s also a suspicion that those flocks encourage social group mixing, which may include related birds.” Early studies on hens found that social groups merged in large winter flocks to form pecking orders, and that in March, these groups broke apart so that related hens were no longer together. But that suspicion has not been empirically tested. My student is currently attempting to figure that out by examining the relatedness of hens within spring social groups. Stay tuned. ”.
When winter’s icy grip tightens the landscape transforms into a white wonderland, burying the usual bounty of food sources beneath a thick blanket of snow. But fear not, for the resilient wild turkey adapts its diet to thrive even in the harshest conditions. Let’s delve into the fascinating world of winter turkey cuisine and discover what keeps these feathered friends fueled during the coldest months.
Nature’s Opportunistic Omnivores: A Feast for All Seasons
Wild turkeys are culinary chameleons, their palates shifting with the seasons. While their summer menu boasts a vibrant array of berries, insects, and tender greens, winter calls for a more robust and energy-dense diet.
Mast: The Cornerstone of Winter Sustenance
Acorns, beechnuts, and hickory nuts form the cornerstone of a turkey’s winter diet. These fallen treasures, scattered across the forest floor, provide a rich source of carbohydrates and fats, essential for maintaining energy levels during the cold months.
Beyond the Nuts: A Diverse Winter Buffet
But the resourceful turkey doesn’t limit itself to just nuts. Its winter menu expands to include a variety of other delectable offerings:
- Grasses and Seeds: These provide essential nutrients and fiber, keeping the digestive system happy.
- Forbs: These non-grassy flowering plants offer a vital source of vitamins and minerals.
- Waste Grains: In agricultural areas, turkeys often take advantage of spilled grains, a readily available source of energy.
- Insects: When the opportunity arises, turkeys will happily gobble up insects, a protein-packed snack.
- Small Reptiles, Crustaceans, and Amphibians: These opportunistic eaters won’t hesitate to diversify their diet with these creatures, adding a touch of variety to their winter meals.
Adapting to the Snow: Creative Foraging Strategies
When deep snow blankets the ground, accessing their usual food sources becomes a challenge. But the resourceful turkey has a few tricks up its sleeve:
- Scratching: With powerful legs and sharp claws, turkeys can dig through several inches of snow to uncover buried acorns and other goodies.
- Flocking Together: In harsh conditions, turkeys often gather in large flocks, increasing their chances of finding food and staying warm.
- Roosting in Protected Areas: Choosing sheltered roosting spots helps conserve energy and protect them from the elements.
- Shifting Diets: When faced with limited food options, turkeys may switch to higher-carb foods like waste grains to maintain energy levels.
The Importance of Winter Nutrition
A turkey’s winter diet plays a crucial role in its survival and reproductive success. Adequate food intake during the cold months ensures:
- Maintaining Body Weight: Turkeys can lose up to 40% of their body weight during extended periods of cold and snow. A nutritious diet helps them maintain their weight and energy reserves.
- Enhanced Immune System: A balanced diet strengthens the immune system, making turkeys less susceptible to diseases and infections.
- Improved Reproductive Potential: Good nutrition during winter leads to better egg production and chick survival in the spring.
Helping Turkeys Thrive in Winter
As responsible stewards of the land, we can play a role in ensuring turkeys have access to adequate food sources during winter:
- Maintain Mast-Producing Hardwoods: These trees provide vital winter sustenance for turkeys.
- Provide Clear Travel Routes: Ensure turkeys can easily access their food sources and roosting areas.
- Consider Supplemental Feeding: In extreme conditions, providing supplemental food sources like corn or cracked grains can be beneficial.
By understanding the unique challenges and adaptations of turkeys in winter, we can appreciate their resilience and resourcefulness. By supporting their winter survival, we contribute to the well-being of these magnificent creatures and ensure their continued presence in our wild landscapes.
Nature’s opportunistic omnivores
Turkeys have flexible diets that vary from season to season. Typical winter foods include mast, grasses, seeds, insects, forbs, and waste grains. Given the opportunity, turkeys nab small reptiles, crustaceans and amphibians. During one harsh Tennessee winter, the mast crop failed. Several hungry gobblers gathered daily at a holly tree feeding on berries. After the ones nearby had disappeared, a few toms successfully plunked berries from the branches with hilarious rocket-like launches. Within a couple days, the tree was stripped.
Dr. Chamberlain: “We know that turkeys shift their diets during winter to higher carb foods that can provide energy. That shift becomes more noticeable as the weather gets harsher, but during warm snaps in the winter, turkeys frequently alternate between hard mast/seeds and any greenery they can find. It makes sense, don’t stock up on high energy foods if you’re not struggling to stay warm. As far as odd foods, one of the oddest I’ve seen is some crayfish that were quite large. I watched three toms once wade around in water, it was late February and winter had been warm. There were crayfish that had emerged and were concentrated in this flooded area. Those toms were crushing those crayfish; it was pretty interesting to watch. ”.
For millennia, turkeys have been scratching a living and surviving the harshest of winters. The gobbler pictured here easily scratched through several inches of snow to expose acorns. The Wisconsin DNR reports that the average survival rate in mild or average winters ranges from 70 to 100 percent, but severe winters can reduce the rate to 55 to 60 percent. How long can turkeys stay in roost areas during extended cold, snow, ice, or flood conditions? Before starving to death, turkeys can live for up to two weeks and lose up to 40% of their body weight. Turkeys are at high risk during long periods of deep powdery snow.
Dr. Chamberlain: “Winter survival in our southern populations is very high, nearly 100 percent. As an interesting side note, one of my study areas in Louisiana was submerged under more than ten feet of water over night when the Morganza spillway opened in 2011. I had birds marked with GPS, all of them died except for 1. One of the deceased birds spent several weeks inside the trees before tumbling out and landing on a floating mass of brush, where we were able to retrieve her. She was a skeleton and had easily lost half of her body mass. I would suspect northern birds during extreme winters find themselves in the same situation. ”.
North American Wild Turkeys Surviving in Deep Snow a True Hardship circa 30% won’t make it
FAQ
How do turkeys survive in the winter?
What do you feed wild turkeys in winter?
What is a wild turkey’s favorite food?
Is it OK to feed wild turkeys?
What do wild turkeys eat in winter?
A Wild turkey’s winter diet consists largely of seasonal seeds, grains and vegetation. There are some winter berries, too, such as hawthorn, wild grape and blackthorn, which turkeys will seek out where available.
What nut does a Turkey eat in winter?
Nuts Also, while in the trees, they might come across an acorn, beech nut, or hickory nut. These are all important parts of the turkey’s diet in winter. They contain fat and calories, both of which help the turkeys maintain weight in the colder months.
Can turkeys eat insects in winter?
Remember, turkeys need high levels of protein in their diets — in winter they cannot supplement for themselves with insects or other natural forage. Keeping turkeys healthy in the winter is remarkably easy. The turkeys will reward you with their playful antics, their friendliness, and their beauty.
How do turkeys make it through winter?
Turkeys don’t have thick fur so it is only natural to wonder how they make it through winter. A big key to that is fat. During spring, summer and fall, they build up a supply of fat by foraging on naturally occurring fruits, nuts, berries and plants.