the Red birds are really singing,the wrens are courting, the blue birds are building nest, and the Martins awere checking out the gourds in my garden today.[8D]

does this mean the gobblers are gonna gobble early this year??[]
I hope so.last year they didn't gobble good till the season was almost over.[&:]

anyone else noticed the sounds of spring around lately?

Nothing in NY. Actually it did get up to 45 today.So i was out in shorts and a t shirt.

I Was Told On One Warm Weekend 2 Weeks Ago There Was Some Gobbling..I Thought There Would Be..Seemed Like A Perfect Morning

i 2 from ny iw as thinking the same thing

This may be a strange question related to the subject....but what are the effects of El-Nino conditions on turkeys? It seems we've had some unseasonably warm weather at the oddest times in some parts of the country. Even here in my own Washington State it's only February and we have had some very spring-like, warm days already. I've always been told that "when the days get longer (daylight savings?) and the temperatures get warmer, gobbling activity increases. I would think it could potentially cause turkeys to increase gobbling activity earlier than later...

Any turkey biology experts out there that can shed some light on El-Nino's effects on gobbling activity?

I'm not quote on quote a "turkey biologist", but I do know a thing or two about reproductive physiology and behavior.

Some recent reports have indicated that the levels of thyroid hormones correlate with the male response to increased sunlight. The thyroid gland is an epicenter for circadian rhythms, body temp, etcetera---meaning the reports were not all that surprising. Hence, the amount of sunlight triggers an increase in T4/T3 (the primary thyroid hormones), and the male avian "urge" to procreate increases accordingly. However, unseasonably warmer temperatures increase metabolism (and of course colder=hinders), so when the country sees a warm snap in February, it can increase a bird's or small mammals metabolism (much more suspect to temperature changes because of body mass). This increase in metabolic breakdown, can in essence, actually enhance or diminish the action of certain hormones. SO...early spells of warm weather will not increase the amounts of T3/T4, but may allow (in theory) the birds to "process" the hormones more efficiently, which triggers an earlier breeding...

With that said, climatic changes, such as El Nino, should have no or little effect on non-migratory birds. These species are much more regulated by changes in day length and chronic weather patterns (ie, 2 weeks of rain) which may alter their breeding activity via changes in land use, vocalizations, and population density. Migratory birds are completely different, and multiple studies have shown an adverse affect to their reproduction and seasonal migration, due to winds/storms/magneto-navigation within their systems.

The birds have been gobbling in CT for a few weeks---I've heard unofficial "reports" from at least 3 people in distinctly different areas.

S&R

Tree,in my years huntin turks no question weather plays a major role in the amount of gobbling activity one hears!The breeding period may start later but a little warm sunshine can put ole longbeard in the mood quickly!I've heard birds gobbling over the last couple weeks and we are a month and a half from opening!Supposedly seasons are set somewhat later to let the birds due much of there breeding before season but obviously it doesn't always work out that way as not every hen accepts a gobbler by opening day!!

I'm fearing that it's going to be an early spring all around with the weather and possible El Nino effects they are talking about. I'm hoping not as I've got drawn for late seasons in both MN and WI. Time will tell...

There is gobbling reported already in Utah, believe it or not.

Hal

mayb not
we went from 45 to 4 inches ....of snow