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Big changes from the meeting today
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<blockquote data-quote="TheLBLman" data-source="post: 5378711" data-attributes="member: 1409"><p>It's possible that on a statewide basis, that 2010 flooding destroyed more turkey nests than any before or since in most of our lifetimes.</p><p></p><p>While many areas of TN are indeed above wherever any these high water levels reached, there is another "issue" I've not seen previously mentioned, as to how lower turkey populations in one area can lead to higher turkey predation in other areas.</p><p></p><p>We often talk of "nest raiders" (like raccoons, dogs, coyotes, possums, etc.), and we talk of the variety of predators that inflict their toll on even adult turkeys, but especially younger turkeys and poults. I assure you a 1-yr-old turkey is not nearly as weary against predation as a 2-yr old turkey.</p><p></p><p>One observation I have is the increasing predation by raptors, most specifically a variety of hawks, but also bald eagles. But <em>UNLIKE</em> all the other predators, these "raptors" easily fly from county to county, and are additionally migratory. </p><p></p><p>Fewer birds on the south side of the county? They start hunting more on the north side, or in the next adjoining county. Never mind these "resident" raptors don't include the migratory ones that "hunt" and kill as they pass through.</p><p></p><p>What I'm suggesting is that raptor predation becomes greatest in which ever locations turkeys are most numerous. And, sudden declines in turkey populations (such as per disease or aflatoxin poisoning) may be shifting raptors' hunting territories more on a macro than micro scale.</p><p></p><p>Everything is effecting everything, all seemingly synergizing the decline of the turkey, which has been similarly preceded by the decline of the bobwhite quail. It's my theory that the little Cooper's hawks evolved into very efficient killers of bobwhite quail. But when the quail were gone, they turned their attention more to turkey poults.</p><p></p><p>What one type of bird seems to have had a population explosion during this same time period our quail have gone nearly extinct and turkeys seem to be declining most in areas they were once most abundant?</p><p></p><p>Hawks and Eagles?</p><p></p><p>We probably should include crows in the list of bird predators, as there has recently become more evidence they destroy lots of nests, and also "hunt" over wide areas, which they can easily move.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="TheLBLman, post: 5378711, member: 1409"] It's possible that on a statewide basis, that 2010 flooding destroyed more turkey nests than any before or since in most of our lifetimes. While many areas of TN are indeed above wherever any these high water levels reached, there is another "issue" I've not seen previously mentioned, as to how lower turkey populations in one area can lead to higher turkey predation in other areas. We often talk of "nest raiders" (like raccoons, dogs, coyotes, possums, etc.), and we talk of the variety of predators that inflict their toll on even adult turkeys, but especially younger turkeys and poults. I assure you a 1-yr-old turkey is not nearly as weary against predation as a 2-yr old turkey. One observation I have is the increasing predation by raptors, most specifically a variety of hawks, but also bald eagles. But [I]UNLIKE[/I] all the other predators, these "raptors" easily fly from county to county, and are additionally migratory. Fewer birds on the south side of the county? They start hunting more on the north side, or in the next adjoining county. Never mind these "resident" raptors don't include the migratory ones that "hunt" and kill as they pass through. What I'm suggesting is that raptor predation becomes greatest in which ever locations turkeys are most numerous. And, sudden declines in turkey populations (such as per disease or aflatoxin poisoning) may be shifting raptors' hunting territories more on a macro than micro scale. Everything is effecting everything, all seemingly synergizing the decline of the turkey, which has been similarly preceded by the decline of the bobwhite quail. It's my theory that the little Cooper's hawks evolved into very efficient killers of bobwhite quail. But when the quail were gone, they turned their attention more to turkey poults. What one type of bird seems to have had a population explosion during this same time period our quail have gone nearly extinct and turkeys seem to be declining most in areas they were once most abundant? Hawks and Eagles? We probably should include crows in the list of bird predators, as there has recently become more evidence they destroy lots of nests, and also "hunt" over wide areas, which they can easily move. [/QUOTE]
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