Pa. Game Commission's turkey count starts July 1

The Pennsylvania Game Commission is asking residents to count and report the wild turkeys they spot from July 1 through August.

Like the Audubon Christmas Bird Count, wildlife agencies and organizations rely on a cadre of volunteers to survey large geographic areas.

The commission participates in a national population survey of wild turkeys.

The two-month window for reporting turkey counts follows the current national standard used by all state wildlife agencies, providing comparable data across the wild turkey’s entire range.

Results from the commission’s survey estimated the 2019 spring turkey population was about 212,200, slightly below the three-year running average of 216,900. Areas where reproduction declined were mainly northern and southeastern Pennsylvania.

“The turkey survey enhances our agency’s internal survey, which serves as a long-term index of turkey reproduction and is used in our turkey population model,” said Mary Jo Casalena, a wild turkey biologist for the commission. “By reporting all turkeys seen during each sighting, whether gobblers, hens with broods or hens without broods, the data help us determine total productivity and allow us to compare long-term reproductive success.”

Turkey populations are impacted by the weather, food supply, predation and other factors.

Residents who sight turkeys will have to count them and note the general location and date.

Turkey sighting reports can be made through the commission’s mobile app or on the agency’s website.

When visiting the website, click on Turkey Sighting Survey in the quick clicks section. The mobile app can be found by searching for Pennsylvania Game Commission in the Google Play Store or Apple’s App Store and selecting Turkey Sighting Survey.

To learn more about the wild turkey, visit PGC’s website.