Page 20 - Kansas Sportsman

TURKEY

Creating Turkey Habitat at the Landscape Scale

By David Gladkowski, NWTF Communications Specialist

When it comes to conserving wild turkeys and bolstering popula- near transition zones between two cover types, such as between
tions, creating healthy habitats is vital. And while the Kansas State grassland and shrub/forestland habitat. It is important to note that
Chapter of the NWTF and its partners are contributing nearly $2 quality early brood-rearing habitat is defined as “year of” distur-
million toward mission-related projects in 2024, as a landowner, bance—in other words, the growing season in which the treatment
you can assist too by creating the essential nesting and brood-rear- was completed.
ing habitat wild turkeys need.
Quality nesting habitat is usually the following one or two growing
Three years ago, the NWTF launched its Waterways for Wildlife seasons on that same site. NWTF’s Waterways for Wildlife and
Initiative, a landscape-level effort to address critical conservation Habitat for the Hatch initiatives go hand-in-hand to ensure that
needs in riparian ecosystems along rivers and streams. Kansas brood-rearing and nesting habitat are near roosting habitat.
has received funding from W4W to support multiple projects, as
the NWTF and its partners work Ideally, a portion of the property
to conserve critical roosting should be treated annually to
habitat in the state. create and maintain quality
nesting and early brood-rearing
In addition, the NWTF recently habitat. During the nesting and
launched its Habitat for the brood-rearing periods of spring
Hatch Initiative, a 10-year and summer, hens and young
strategy to improve forest and poults are most vulnerable to
open lands health and resiliency predators.
across the southeastern U.S.
(including portions of Kansas), The risk of nest predation likely
ultimately leading to more increases in areas of poor habi-
robust wild turkey populations tat that lack adequate cover and
and healthier ecosystems. food resources. Through active
management during this critical
As a landowner, you can do the period, managers and landown-
Habitat for the Hatch Initiative hopes to increase wild turkey
same. ers can help offset the pressures
populations and healthier ecosystems. Monte Loomis, NWTF to nesting females and poults.

The ideal nesting and
brood-rearing habitat is characterized by ground cover that can CONSERVATION PRACTICES KEY TO PROMOTING
conceal nests and young poults while allowing ground-level mobil- WILDLIFE HABITAT INCLUDE:
ity. Flowering plants and shrubs attract protein-rich insects, which
are critical to egg development for hens. Prescribed Burning

Also, insects must make up about 90% of a poult’s diet in the first Prescribed burning is one of the most cost-effective habitat man-
two to three weeks to enable its growth and develop the ability to fly agement tools at the disposal of a private landowner or manager.
into low trees or bushes to escape dangers both during the day and Prescribed fire is a great way to manage for healthy forests, grass-
night. These areas also provide ample soft mast and herbaceous lands and transitional early successional habitat.
vegetation that wild turkeys require.
Prescribed fire has many uses and can control woody encroach-
Nesting and brood-rearing habitats are commonly found in and ment, reduce fuel loads and litter and promote desirable new

20 THE KANSAS SPORTSMAN | SPRING 2024