Had a hen turkey in the backyard yesterday. Alone. I’ve seen more than a few adult hens wandering about recently with no poults.
Sure, it is possible that the hen has a nest nearby and is simply out feeding. But most of the nesting should be done by now. An even more concerning theory holds that the exceptionally long and cold rainy nights and rains have killed most of the poults, which are especially vulnerable during this time of year.
They have not yet developed feathers and thus have no protection against the wet, then lethally cold conditions.
Yes, hens can lose an entire clutch and go nest again, laying more eggs. But that cannot happen indefinitely.
The biologists I’ve spoken to this year disagree about the extent of the weather kill this spring, but they all agree that some young birds are probably gone.
Many questions were raised by the article published last week about the slim possibility that dove hunting would become legal in New York. Some were from people who don’t like hunting; others simply don’t like me. But most were from non-hunters who sincerely wanted to know why anyone would want to shoot a dove.
Satisfactorily explaining that to anyone who does not hunt birds is difficult, if not impossible. Most do not find the answer acceptable, and understandably so.
Should we say something like, “We want to shoot doves because it’s a great sport,” or “We should be able to kill a few doves because we should be able to shoot them because 42 other states allow us to do so,” to someone who isn’t a hunter?
True, doves can be excellent table fare. They are essentially diet foods because it takes more energy to remove the meat from the bones than it does for the little breasts.
Consider the facts that people do not eat during the legal but regulated merganzer season. It is also impossible to provide a satisfactory explanation for this one.
Other aspects of the column were also questioned. For instance, it was brought up that the mourning dove is not the bird of peace, despite what was stated in the column. My bad, there. Turns out the bird of peace is the white turtle dove, a subspecies of the European turtle dove. They do not exist in North America and, thus, are safe from American gunners.
The assertion that seven New England states do not have dove hunting seasons was disputed because there are only six states in the region. Actually, the U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service cited seven northeastern states, not New England states.
Additionally, an inquisitive bystander noted that the accompanying photo in the column showed a rock pigeon rather than a dove. That one confused me, too. For the record, columnists do not select photos to be published.
Have you noticed an increase in the number of lone hen turkeys roaming around lately? You’re not alone. Many people have observed this phenomenon, and there are a few possible explanations for it.
Possible Reasons for Solitary Hen Turkeys:
- Loss of Poults: The unusually persistent rains and cold nights this year may have led to the death of many young poults, who are particularly vulnerable during this time. These young birds haven’t yet developed feathers, leaving them susceptible to the harsh weather conditions. While hens can lay more eggs if they lose a clutch, this process can’t continue indefinitely.
- Nesting Behavior: It’s possible that the hen is simply out feeding while her nest is nearby. However, most nesting should be done by this time of year, making this explanation less likely.
- Competition Among Toms: Toms that haven’t found a mate can be ostracized by dominant males who don’t want any competition. This could explain why you’re seeing lone turkeys, as they might be young bachelors trying to attract a female.
Other Interesting Observations:
- Mourning Doves vs. White Turtle Doves: The article clarifies that the “bird of peace” is actually the white turtle dove, not the mourning dove. White turtle doves are a subspecies of the European turtle dove and are not found in North America.
- Dove Hunting Controversy: The article discusses the controversy surrounding the possibility of dove hunting being legalized in New York. While some people oppose hunting doves for various reasons, others find it an enjoyable sport or a way to manage dove populations.
- Fly Tying Open House: Badger Creek Fly Tying in Freeville is hosting its 10th annual Open House, featuring fly tying demonstrations, casting lessons, and more.
- Bills Affecting Federal Funding: The New York State Conservation Council supports bills that analyze the cost and impact of providing free hunting and fishing licenses to specific groups. This is important to ensure that the Conservation Fund is not negatively impacted.
Although the precise cause of the rise in lone hen turkeys is unknown, the given explanations shed some light on the phenomenon. It’s crucial to keep in mind that these are only theories, and more investigation is required to identify the true cause.
Additional Resources:
- Ask2 Extension: https://ask2.extension.org/kb/faq.php?id=448673
- Press & Sun-Bulletin: https://www.pressconnects.com/story/sports/outdoor-blog/2017/06/08/why-so-many-solitary-hen-turkeys/376485001/
- Hen turkey
- Solitary turkey
- Poults
- Nesting
- Toms
- Dove hunting
- Fly tying
- Conservation Fund
Fly tying open house
Badger Creek Fly Tying in Freeville will host its 10th annual Open House from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday.
Joe Cambridge and Clayton Maybee will conduct fly tying demonstrations and Carol Farkus will give free casting lessons.
The shop is located at 622 West Dryden Rd. in Freeville.
For information, call Mike Hogue at 347-4946, email him at [email protected] or visit the website www.eflytyer.com.