The Michigan Department of Natural Resources needs the public's help for its annual wild turkey brood survey this summer. The DNR asks that any turkeys seen from July 1 through Aug. 31 be reported on the agency's turkey brood survey page, https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/things-to-do/hunting/turkey/turkey-brood-survey. The data submitted is used to track the health of the state’s turkey population, the DNR states. (Michigan Department of Natural Resources photo)

Though not Thanksgiving, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources is ready to talk turkey — or, more specifically, young turkeys seen this summer.

Residents who witness a wild turkey hen trying to shepherd a group of new poults this summer are asked to report that sighting to the DNR.

Starting this past Tuesday through Aug. 31, the DNR is conducting its annual wild turkey brood survey – what it calls “a community science effort” for people statewide to report sightings of wild turkey hens and their young.

These reports contribute valuable data to track the health of the state’s turkey population, the DNR stated in a news release.

Wild turkey numbers in Michigan rebounded from near extinction in the early 20th century to now being found in every county across the state, according to the DNR. Yet it’s still worth taking stock on how the population is doing each year, the DNR states.

“This bird’s comeback is something to celebrate, and now we need the public’s help to keep tabs on our turkeys going forward,” said Adam Bump, the DNR’s upland game bird specialist.

Now in its third year, Michigan’s wild turkey brood survey is part of a multistate initiative to monitor turkey populations. The survey follows a standardized protocol used by many other states, supported by the National Wild Turkey Federation, according to the DNR.

By participating, Michigan joins a larger conservation effort to identify regional trends in turkey populations and address potential declines seen in other parts of the country, the DNR stated in a news release.

“In Michigan, our turkey population is currently stable, but we know that in many states, turkeys have been declining,” Bump said. “This survey is an important way for us to detect any changes here at home and make sure our turkeys remain a success story. It’s also a chance for the public to be directly involved in wildlife science.”

Anyone in Michigan can help by reporting wild turkey sightings until Aug. 31, using the online turkey brood survey form to submit observations.

The survey asks seven short questions about what observers saw, as well as the date and location. Respondents will be asked to note the number of adult females, or hens; fledgling turkeys of the year, or poults; and adult male gobblers and young males, or jakes.

It takes only a minute or two to complete a report, according to the DNR.

“Each report from the public, whether it’s a single turkey or a big flock, is like a piece of the puzzle that helps us understand turkey reproduction and survival,” Bump said. “We have a great hunting and wildlife-watching community here in Michigan, and we’re excited to see everyone pitch in and share their turkey sightings.”

The DNR uses an email address login for the survey to ensure each observer is counted only once, which helps in analyzing the data.

“Linking each sighting to an email simply lets us tally how many individual people are contributing,” Caitlin Ott-Conn, a laboratory scientist with the DNR Wildlife Division, said in the news release. “This way we know if we’re hearing from 100 people once each, or one person 100 times – it makes the data stronger.”

Ott-Conn oversees the survey data collection and analysis. After the survey period, the DNR Wildlife Division’s biologists will compile all public submissions to calculate measures, such as the average brood size, or number of poults per hen – a key index of turkey reproductive success.

“We’re basically looking at how many chicks each hen is raising on average,” Ott-Conn said. “If we see, for example, a high poult-per-hen ratio, that tells us it’s been a good summer for turkey production. If the numbers are low, it could signal challenges like bad weather or other factors affecting turkey survival.”

Year by year, such observations show trends that help inform wildlife management decisions, Ott-Conn said.

She specifically praised the value of public input, saying, “Michigan is a big state, and our team can’t be everywhere. Reports from residents all over help fill in gaps we’d never capture otherwise. It’s a true community science effort, and we’re grateful for each and every person who takes the time to send in a turkey sighting.”

The DNR picks the midsummer period for the survey because it is when turkey broods are most visible. Turkeys nest in late spring; by July, many hens are out and about with newly hatched poults, according to the DNR.

“You might spot turkeys while hiking, driving, or even in your yard – whenever it happens, just remember the details and take a moment to report it online,” Ott-Conn said.

Since the turkey brood survey began in 2023, Michiganders have submitted in excess of 11,500 reports, tallying more than 25,000 hens, 65,000 poults and 11,000 males, the DNR states.

“We were thrilled with the response,” Bump said. “It shows how much people care about our wildlife. We’re hoping to see that enthusiasm continue and even grow this year. If you missed the survey before, now’s your chance. If you reported turkeys last year, we’d love to have you back telling us what you’re seeing in 2025.”

For more information or to submit an observation on the turkey brood survey page, go to https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/things-to-do/hunting/turkey/turkey-brood-survey.