Gobbling Activity and Use of Structural Habitat at Nest Sites by Wild Turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) in Western Nebraska

Authors

• Robyn M. Dausener, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

First Advisor

Mark P. Vrtiska

Committee Members

Daizaburo Shizuka, Andrew Little, Carlee Moates

Date of this Version

6-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Citation

A thesis presented to the faculty of the Graduate College at the University of Nebraska in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science

Major: Natural Resource Sciences

Under the supervision of Professor Mark P. Vrtiska

Lincoln, Nebraska, June 2026

Comments

Copyright 2026, Robyn M. Dausener. Used by permission

Abstract

Wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) populations in Nebraska have declined substantially in recent years. Understanding gobbling chronology and its environmental drivers may inform spring hunting season structure and management actions. I used autonomous recording units (ARUs) in two ecologically distinct regions of Nebraska, the northwestern (NW) Pine Ridge landscape, and the southwestern (SW) agricultural landscape, to quantify gobbling activity from 2023-2025. I paired gobbling data with nesting chronology, cumulative daily hunting pressure, weather conditions, and moon phase using Bayesian generalized additive mixed models. Gobbling peaked during mid-to-late April in both regions, preceding peak nest initiation and incubation, with no consistent latitudinal difference detected. Cumulative daily harvest had a strong negative effect on gobbling in both regions. Wind speed was the strongest negative predictor in both regions; temperature and dewpoint effects differed directionally between regions. Current spring hunting seasons appear to coincide closely with peak breeding activity, warranting consideration of examination of season structures to reduce possible breeding disruption, support long-term population sustainability, and maintain hunter satisfaction.

Structural habitat at wild turkey nest sites has traditionally been evaluated from a predator-looking-inward perspective at heights exceeding the eye level of an incubating hen, potentially overlooking habitat conditions relevant to hen survival. I examined nest site structural habitat from the perspective of an incubating hen (17 cm) using 360°cameras in both regions from 2024-2025. Structural habitat was a substantially stronger predictor of hen survival and nest outcomes in the SW than in the NW. In the SW, moveable vegetation (MV) showed the strongest quadratic relationship with nest duration, and larger MV proportions were associated with reduced hen predation risk, whereas greater combined non-moveable landscape (NML) and non-moveable vegetation (NMV) structure increased hen predation probability, suggesting a hen survival-nest duration tradeoff driven by structural habitat composition. Structural habitat variables were largely non-significant predictors in the NW, suggesting structural habitat may function as a limiting resource in agricultural landscapes but not forested landscapes. These findings support a hen-centered approach to nest site habitat assessment and management.

Advisor: Mark P. Vrtiska