Integrating Data Sources to Quantify Wild Turkey Abundance

Thanks to support from dedicated partners — such as the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund, Mossy Oak and NWTF state chapters — the RFP program is an aggressive, annual effort to fund critical wild turkey research projects nationwide. 

Led by Corey Callaghan, Ph.D., assistant professor of global ecology at the University of Florida, this population abundance study is incorporating largescale datasets from various sources, such as citizen reporting programs like iNaturalist and eBird, as well as camera traps, hunting harvest data, telemetry studies and survival data to develop a more accurate method for estimating wild turkey abundance, which will benefit state agencies in decision making processes. 

The goal is to integrate diverse datasets to better understand where and when wild turkeys are present, while minimizing the weaknesses of any single data source. 

“Our goal is to try to get this method published, so that it can be repeated every two years and then we can start to think about tracking changes through time," said Callaghan.  

Working alongside colleagues Carolina Baruzzi, Ph.D, and Marcus Lashley, Ph.D., Callaghan and the team have developed statistical models that borrow strengths from each dataset. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission collects detailed data on poults-per-hen ratios, while citizen science data offers broad geographic coverage. By combining these sources, the models achieve a more accurate, scalable picture of turkey populations. 

“Having that collaborative nature has been really helpful for data scientists like me, to make sure we're on the right track when it comes to the turkey biology,” Callaghan said. 

The team’s initial focus is on Florida, where the research is closely tied to the Florida Wildlife Corridor. The importance of habitat connectivity in dictating wild turkey population productivity is commonly overlooked, but habitat loss and fragmentation is often cited as a reason for wild turkey population declines. Early findings of this research indicate that forest cover is correlated with wild turkey presence, while areas dominated by crop cover may limit their range. 

The team is examining how habitat connectivity influences wild turkey distribution and how to strategically implement habitat restoration programs such as the Wild Turkey Cost-Share Program, a program collaboratively implemented by FWC and NWTF across Florida.  

Beyond the state level, the research team is working to expand their modeling framework nationwide. The goal is to provide state agencies and conservation organizations with robust, data-driven tools for managing wild turkey populations, from setting sustainable harvest limits to directing habitat restoration funding. 

"This isn’t just about counting turkeys,” Callaghan emphasized. “It's about creating a scalable, repeatable method that can help agencies make informed decisions every couple of years as new data comes in." 

Currently, the research team has two scientific papers going through the peer review process, which is an important step towards making sure that the science is justifiable.