This Turkey Tuesday is about finding a cool place to hang out. Where I live, the temperatures have been brutal and when outside, you’re figuring out a way to stay cool – or at least, cooler. The importance of navigating around extreme summer temperatures has been well documented in the gamebird world, and wild turkeys are no exception when it comes to finding ways to beat the heat. Because broods are actively growing and require early successional, low-growing vegetation that is often in open areas exposed to sun, they often have to balance the need to use quality foraging areas with also needing to find cooler areas within their home ranges. Research has shown that broods strike a balance, wherein they forage at locations with abundant insects and appropriate vegetation heights, but then loaf in areas that are cooler. In fact, hens with broods are much more likely to use these cooler locations than hens without broods. In many cases, these cooler locations are hardwood stands, places where shade and air flow combine to offer reduced temperatures, and particularly riparian zones where water is also available. The take home is the ability to beat the heat is an important consideration for wild turkeys in summer, particularly for broods trying to balance access to quality foraging areas with staying cool.
Pic by Jami Lindler
