Whetstone Weekly: Differentiating Nesting Cover and Brooding Cover for Maximizing Turkey Recruitment

Dear Whetstone Weekly Readers,

I hope this newsletter finds you well. This past Saturday, I had the pleasure of attending a field day at Realtree Farms in LaGrange, GA, hosted by the dedicated team at Turkeys For Tomorrow. The event was both enlightening and inspiring, offering valuable insights into the conservation of our beloved wild turkey. I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Realtree for their hospitality and to Turkeys For Tomorrow for their unwavering commitment to conserving our wild turkey populations.

Learn more about Turkey’s For Tomorrow.

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Understanding Nesting Cover vs. Brooding Cover

One of the critical topics discussed during the event was the differentiation between nesting cover and brooding cover, essential elements for maximizing turkey recruitment on your property. Understanding and managing these habitat types can significantly impact turkey populations.

Nesting Cover vs. Brooding Cover: Key Differences

• Nesting Cover:
  This habitat is where hens lay their eggs and incubate them until they hatch. It needs to provide dense, herbaceous vegetation to conceal the nest from predators. Nesting cover is typically composed of tall grasses, forbs, and shrubs that offer both overhead and lateral cover. The primary goal is concealment and protection.

• Brooding Cover:
  Once the eggs hatch, the habitat requirements change. Brooding cover must offer abundant insects for the growing poults and enough cover to protect them from predators while allowing easy movement. This habitat needs a mix of open ground and overhead cover to facilitate foraging and predator evasion. Early successional habitats and areas managed with prescribed fire are ideal for brooding cover.

The Needs of Poults

Poults have specific needs that must be met for them to thrive. These include:

1. Security Cover from Predators: Poults need areas with enough cover to hide from predators but not so dense that it impedes their movement. Dense vegetation at ground level provides essential concealment.

2. Abundant Insects: Poults require a high-protein diet to grow rapidly. Early successional habitats and areas managed with prescribed fire typically have an abundance of insects, which are crucial for the poults' development.

3. Shade and Thermal Cover: Poults have a very narrow temperature tolerance. They need shade to avoid overheating and areas where they can regulate their body temperature. Closed-canopy woodlots provide essential thermal cover, protecting poults from extreme temperatures and offering a safe environment.

The Importance of Bare Ground in Brooding Cover

A crucial aspect of brooding cover is the presence of bare ground. Poults need bare ground to move easily, forage for insects, and avoid predators. In most instances, two years post-fire is the tail-end of usability for a site for brood production. After this period, the site can become too crowded with ground-level vegetation, making it difficult for poults to maneuver. On north-facing hillsides, you might get away with a 3-year fire return interval due to slower vegetation growth. Still, maintaining open, navigable ground is critical for poults' survival and growth.

Managing Habitat with Prescribed Fire

During the field day, a significant emphasis was placed on the importance of prescribed fire in managing nesting and brooding covers. Fire is a natural process that maintains healthy ecosystems, and its role in habitat management cannot be overstated.

Benefits of Prescribed Fire:

1. Promotes Plant Diversity: Fire helps control invasive species and encourages the growth of native grasses and forbs, creating a rich, diverse habitat.

2. Reduces Thatch: By removing accumulated dead vegetation, fire promotes new growth and maintains open ground, essential for brooding poults.

3. Maintains Early Successional Habitat: Regular fire intervals prevent succession to woody plants, keeping the habitat ideal for nesting and brooding.

Fire Return Intervals:

To maximize the benefits of prescribed fire, it's essential to establish appropriate fire return intervals. A return interval of 1-3 years is typically recommended for nesting and brooding cover. This frequency ensures the habitat remains open and diverse, providing the necessary resources for wild turkeys. I recommend that landowners burn portions of their farms every year. This practice ensures a continuous supply of quality habitat for nesting and brooding, maintaining the balance needed for healthy turkey populations.

Conclusion

Incorporating these habitat management practices on your property can significantly enhance turkey recruitment. By understanding the differences between nesting and brooding cover and utilizing tools like prescribed fire, you can create an environment that supports the entire life cycle of wild turkeys.

Thank you again to Realtree and Turkeys For Tomorrow for their dedication and for hosting such an informative event. If you have any questions or need assistance with your habitat management, don't hesitate to contact us at Whetstone Habitat. Visit our website, www.whetstonehabitat.com, to learn more and schedule a consultation before our schedule fills up.

Give your property an edge!

Warm regards,

Zack Vucurevich
Founder, Whetstone Habitat

For anyone interested in further research on the topics discussed, please feel free to read the following scientific articles:

Pyrodiversity matters: Wild turkey habitat selection in a fire-managed landscape

Wild Turkey Prenesting-Resource Selection in a Landscape Managed with Frequent Prescribed Fire