[BCNnet] Wild Turkeys - additional info
Rbdoeker@aol.com
Rbdoeker@aol.com
Tue, 3 Feb 2004 08:57:26 EST
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About a month ago I asked for BCNnet and IBET feedback on the proposed
reintroduction of wild turkeys into the Cook County FP. (I had told the FP
Superintendent I would seek the input of local birders on this issue.)
All of the responses I received were positive. It was only at the BCN
meeting that I heard the first negative response - which is why I asked Marianne to
post her note.
If BCN is going to take a position on the reintroduction of wild turkeys, the
subject should have a public airing, which is what BCNnet is for. :>
Randi Doeke
Chicago
In a message dated 2/2/2004 9:15:42 PM Central America Standard Time,
Marihahn@aol.com writes:
February 2, 2004
Fellow BCN supporters:
At the January BCN meeting, I prefaced my remarks about Wild Turkeys with the
statement that I had only recently heard about the possible reintroduction of
them into the Forest Preserves of Cook County and that I did not have much
time to adequately research the topic. Nonetheless, I recommended that the
group oppose the reintroduction for several reasons, which I will explain below.
My memory of Father Marquette's Journal was flawed. I was so
impressed by his marvelous description of bison and the fact that he lived on prairie
chickens when he spent the winter in the Chicago region that I forgot about
his mention of turkeys. I apologize for the misinformation.
With Wild Turkey populations increasing in Illinois, it is probably
inevitable that they will repopulate the oak woodlands of Cook County eventually.
Indeed, a Wild Turkey was flushed from a low branch on an oak tree in Jurgensen
Woods (South Cook County) about three years ago by Mary Anne McLean and her
Thorn Creek Audubon friends as they did a breeding bird survey of the area. Last
spring and again in the fall, Wanetta Elliott saw a single bird at Bartel
Grasslands. So why not reintroduce the Wild Turkey to the forest preserves of
Cook County?
I maintain that doing so could be a big mistake that we will not be able to
undo. We cannot stop turkeys from wandering in on their own, but we can make a
conscious decision not to reintroduce them because of the havoc they can
wreak on the ecosystem. Is that likely to happen? Without hunting, it very well
could, just as the white-tailed population has exploded in the preserves.
According to Fran Harty, retired Illinois DNR Regional Director, the DNR
traps and removes Wild Turkeys from an Illinois Nature Preserve on the west side
of the state because, with hunting forbidden in the Nature Preserves, turkeys
have become a problem. They are large omnivores that require large amounts of
food. Besides acorns, they scratch in the leaf litter for anything edible.
To mention but one species, spring beauties disappeared from the Preserve
because the birds dug up and ate the bulblets. Mike Redmer, Field Biologist and
herpetologist with the USFWS, Chicago Field Office, says that the birds will
eat young snakes, and there are two Illinois-endangered reptiles in the Cook
County Preserves that could be affected by turkeys. Salamander populations could
also suffer.
The potential for turkeys becoming a nuisance species is high, especially if
the birds are reintroduced. If they come in on their own, the process is
likely to be slow. It may take years before any adverse effects on the ecosystem
will be seen. However, reintroductions usually involve bringing in a large
number of individuals to one or more good sites so that they will "take", i.e.,
reproduce without the need for bringing in more birds. With hunting in the
Forest Preserves forbidden and the penchant of people for feeding wildlife, the
likelihood for the introduced population to get out of hand very quickly is
high. Then what do we do?
Finally, the Wild Turkey may not be a benign and wonderful animal to have
around. See Outdoor Illinois magazine, February 2004, page 12, for a story about
how aggressive turkeys can be. Ed Harris had a flock coming to a bird feeder
in his Franklin County yard, and "for a while, we'd have to carry a stick
every time we went outside." One close look at the long, sharp spurs on the legs
of a male Wild Turkey should make one cautious about an encounter with a bird
that's bigger than a young child.
I hope this serves as food for thought. Mr. Bylina is doing a great job as
General Superintendent of the FPDCC. He's like a breath of fresh air! Let's
hope he continues with an ecosystem-based management approach for our wonderful
preserves.
Sincerely,
Marianne Hahn
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<DIV>
<DIV>About a month ago I asked for BCNnet and IBET feedback on the proposed=20=
reintroduction of wild turkeys into the Cook County FP. (I had told th=
e FP Superintendent I would seek the input of local birders on this issue.)&=
nbsp; </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>All of the responses I received were positive. It was only at the=
BCN meeting that I heard the first negative response - which is why I asked=
Marianne to post her note.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>If BCN is going to take a position on the reintroduction of wild turkey=
s, the subject should have a public airing, which is what BCNnet is for. :&g=
t;</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Randi Doeke</DIV>
<DIV>Chicago</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>In a message dated 2/2/2004 9:15:42 PM Central America Standard Time, M=
arihahn@aol.com writes:</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE style=3D"PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue=20=
2px solid"><FONT face=3Darial,helvetica><FONT lang=3D0 face=3DArial size=3D2=
PTSIZE=3D"10" FAMILY=3D"SANSSERIF">February 2, 2004<BR><BR>Fellow BCN suppo=
rters:<BR>At the January BCN meeting, I prefaced my remarks about Wild Turke=
ys with the statement that I had only recently heard about the possible rein=
troduction of them into the Forest Preserves of Cook County and that I did n=
ot have much time to adequately research the topic. Nonetheless, I rec=
ommended that the group oppose the reintroduction for several reasons, which=
I will explain below.<BR> My memory of=20=
Father Marquette's Journal was flawed. I was so impressed by his marve=
lous description of bison and the fact that he lived on prairie chickens whe=
n he spent the winter in the Chicago region that I forgot about his mention=20=
of turkeys. I apologize for the misinformation.<BR>With Wild Turkey po=
pulations increasing in Illinois, it is probably inevitable that they will r=
epopulate the oak woodlands of Cook County eventually. Indeed, a Wild=20=
Turkey was flushed from a low branch on an oak tree in Jurgensen Woods (Sout=
h Cook County) about three years ago by Mary Anne McLean and her Thorn Creek=
Audubon friends as they did a breeding bird survey of the area. Last=20=
spring and again in the fall, Wanetta Elliott saw a single bird at Bartel Gr=
asslands. So why not reintroduce the Wild Turkey to the forest preserv=
es of Cook County?<BR>I maintain that doing so could be a big mistake that w=
e will not be able to undo. We cannot stop turkeys from wandering in o=
n their own, but we can make a conscious decision not to reintroduce them be=
cause of the havoc they can wreak on the ecosystem. Is that likely to=20=
happen? Without hunting, it very well could, just as the white-tailed=20=
population has exploded in the preserves.<BR>According to Fran Harty, retire=
d Illinois DNR Regional Director, the DNR traps and removes Wild Turkeys fro=
m an Illinois Nature Preserve on the west side of the state because, with hu=
nting forbidden in the Nature Preserves, turkeys have become a problem. =
; They are large omnivores that require large amounts of food. Besides=
acorns, they scratch in the leaf litter for anything edible. To menti=
on but one species, spring beauties disappeared from the Preserve because th=
e birds dug up and ate the bulblets. Mike Redmer, Field Biologis=
t and herpetologist with the USFWS, Chicago Field Office, says that the bird=
s will eat young snakes, and there are two Illinois-endangered reptiles in t=
he Cook County Preserves that could be affected by turkeys. Salamander=
populations could also suffer.<BR>The potential for turkeys becoming a nuis=
ance species is high, especially if the birds are reintroduced. If the=
y come in on their own, the process is likely to be slow. It may take=20=
years before any adverse effects on the ecosystem will be seen. Howeve=
r, reintroductions usually involve bringing in a large number of individuals=
to one or more good sites so that they will "take", i.e., reproduce without=
the need for bringing in more birds. With hunting in the Forest Prese=
rves forbidden and the penchant of people for feeding wildlife, the likeliho=
od for the introduced population to get out of hand very quickly is high.&nb=
sp; Then what do we do?<BR>Finally, the Wild Turkey may not be a benign and=20=
wonderful animal to have around. See Outdoor Illinois magazine, Februa=
ry 2004, page 12, for a story about how aggressive turkeys can be. Ed=20=
Harris had a flock coming to a bird feeder in his Franklin County yard, and=20=
"for a while, we'd have to carry a stick every time we went outside." =20=
One close look at the long, sharp spurs on the legs of a male Wild Turkey sh=
ould make one cautious about an encounter with a bird that's bigger than a y=
oung child.<BR>I hope this serves as food for thought. Mr. Bylina is d=
oing a great job as General Superintendent of the FPDCC. He's like a b=
reath of fresh air! Let's hope he continues with an ecosystem-based ma=
nagement approach for our wonderful preserves.<BR><BR>Sincerely,<BR><BR>Mari=
anne Hahn</FONT></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV>
<DIV></DIV></BODY></HTML>
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