Once again this winter, the Pennsylvania Game Commission is requesting the public to report sightings of turkey flocks.

Information on the location of wintertime turkeys helps Game Commission wildlife managers determine possible sites for live-trapping turkeys for ongoing population monitoring and other projects. No turkeys are moved during the trapping efforts. All birds trapped will be quickly processed, leg banded and immediately released at the point of capture.

Here in our region, Wildlife Management Unit 4D is one of four WMUs that will be using some extra data collection. The others are WMUs 2D, 3D and 5C. In these WMUs, about 130 hen turkeys will be fitted with GPS transmitters that will allow biologists to monitor the movements and locations of those birds throughout the year. A hunter who harvests a banded or transmitter-equipped turkey, or anyone who finds a marked turkey dead, is asked to report it to the Game Commission.

“The data give us information on annual survival rates and annual spring harvest rates for our population model and provides the person reporting the information on when and approximately where the turkey was banded,” said Mary Jo Casalena, the Game Commission’s turkey biologist. “In the four WMUs where hens are getting the GPS transmitters, we’re studying turkey population and movement dynamics, disease prevalence, and other aspects that may limit populations.”

All the information regarding winter turkey sightings is being collected online at https://pgcdatacollection.pa.gov/TurkeyBroodSurvey now through March 15. There is also a link to the reporting webpage near the bottom of the homepage of the Game Commission website, pgc.pa.gov. Some of the information you will be asked to provide will include the date of the sighting, the location, and the type of land (public, private or unknown) where birds are seen.

The information obtained is part of a large-scale project conducted over the past five years and includes researchers from Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio and West Virginia. The field study will wrap up at the end of 2025. During that time, more than 500 hen turkeys and more than 200 male turkeys were equipped with GPS transmitters and monitored.

“It is the largest turkey project we’ve ever conducted, with the hope of answering many questions regarding current turkey population dynamics,” Casalena said.

Some of the areas being investigated during the study have been how landscape and weather impact nest rates, nest success, poult survival, predation, habitat use and movement. Research directed to male turkeys included the study of male survival rates, movement and habitat use. Locating turkeys to trap for study is essential to obtain adequate information for the research. Public input is a key source of locating birds.

“The public was so helpful the last few years and some even helped with monitoring sites and trapping,” Casalena said. “We look forward to continuing this winter.”

The 2025 Great Backyard Bird Count is another upcoming citizen science project that will be taking place from Feb. 14-17. Bird enthusiasts of all ages and experience levels are invited to participate and contribute information regarding the number and species of birds observed and the amount of time spent counting them during the event, which will help scientists gather important data on bird populations and distributions.

The GBBC was started in 1998 as the was the first online participatory-science project by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society. Birds Canada partnered with GBBC in 2009 to support participation in Canada. By 2013, GBBC became a global project. The collective effort of thousands of participants worldwide makes a significant impact on the understanding of avian ecology.

For scientists, the data collected during the GBBC are invaluable, providing insights into bird population trends, migration patterns and the effects of environmental changes. This information is crucial for developing conservation strategies and protecting bird species and their habitats.

Taking part in the GBBC is easy and straightforward. The GBBC website, birdcount.org, has all the information necessary to participate and provides an easy-to-use platform for entering your data. All you need to do is choose a location, whether it’s your own backyard, a park, or anywhere else you’ll be able to spot and identify birds, and spend as little as 15 minutes observing and counting the birds you see. You can participate on one day or every day of the count, whatever fits your schedule. Then follow the simple instructions to submit your observations. The data will be invaluable to researchers studying bird trends across the globe.

The 2025 Great Backyard Bird Count is more than just a bird-watching event; it’s a global movement that contributes to the conservation of wild birds. By participating, you become part of a larger community of bird enthusiasts and citizen scientists dedicated to understanding and protecting bird populations.