Weather's Impact on Male Wild Turkey Gobbling

Ever wondered how weather affects the famous gobbling calls of male wild turkeys? Scientists have been trying to figure this out for a long time, but the results have been all over the place. Some say weather doesn't matter much, while others think it plays a big role. One problem is that most studies use people listening along roads, which can be hit and miss. Thankfully, new tech like autonomous recording units (ARUs) can collect data continuously and in more places.

Researchers used ARUs from March to May across several sites in the southeastern US between 2014 and 2018. They found that rain, strong winds, and higher temperatures seemed to make turkeys gobble less. On the other hand, increasing barometric pressure seemed to encourage more gobbling. This is important to know for understanding the timing of gobbling, turkey reproduction, and even hunting seasons. So, next time you're out listening for turkey calls, remember that the weather might be telling you a story too!

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