Across the South and Midwest, scientists are working to understand why wild turkeys are on the decline.
The urgent quest to uncover the reasons behind the declining turkey populations has mobilized scientists across the country. In Oklahoma, Oklahoma State graduate students Nicolle De Filippo and Cyrena Bedoian are deeply involved in fieldwork, tracking turkeys to collect data on their nesting habits and poult survival rates.
The research aims to piece together a complex puzzle, examining potential factors such as habitat loss, predation patterns, disease, and the impacts of climate change. Despite the daunting challenge, the determination of researchers like De Filippo and Bedoian exemplifies the concerted effort to save the wild turkey, a bird that not only holds a special place in America's natural heritage but also serves as a symbol of the intricate and often precarious balance of conservation work.
