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MONROE OUTDOORS by Terry W. Johnson
m
Reporter
March 2, 2022
Local citizen scientists called to talk turkey
F or quite some time,
wildlife biologists
have partnered with
the public in the
monitoring and manage
ment of wildlife
populations.
These dedicated
individuals are
known as citi
zen scientists’
For well more
than 100 years,
these partner
ships have been
used primar
ily to monitor
birds. How
ever, in recent years citizen
scientist-based endeavors
are also focusing on a wide
range of species-from
dolphins to wild pollinators
and even spiders.
One of these surveys also
deserves our attention.
Georgia Wildlife Resources
(WRD) biologists refer to it
as The Turkey Production
Index Survey. However, it
is more commonly known
as the Turkey Brood Survey
or the Wild Turkey Sum
mer Poult Survey.
This study has been
around since 1978. How
ever, most Georgians are
not familiar with it because
it was conducted by WRD
employees, such as wildlife
biologists, technicians and
law enforcement officers.
TERRY W. JOHNSON
Those taking part in the
survey recorded all tur
keys they spotted while
conducting their regular
work-related activities.
Recently, the
WRD expand
ed the survey
to include all
Georgians that
either hunt
wild turkeys or
simply enjoy
watching them.
The Wild
Turkey Brood
Survey runs
from June
through August. This
survey doesn’t require
participants to alter their
everyday activities. Vol
unteers are simply asked
to record all of the turkeys
they happen to see during
their normal daily routine.
When one or more turkeys
are spotted, participants
record information such as
the number of hens seen
with poults, number of
broods, number of gobblers
and number of unidenti
fied turkeys.
At the end of the season
data can be submitted
either online or by down
loading a special App
available through your web
browser.
While records of these
sightings may not seem
important, biologists have
discovered that there is a
strong correlation between
the number of juvenile
turkeys seen during the
turkey nesting and brood
rearing seasons and hunt
ing season populations. In
addition, when combined
with data gathered from
hunters during the hunting
season, these data are used
to determine the size of our
wild turkey population and
reveal population trends.
Those of us fortunate
enough to live in Monroe
County are ideally suited to
take part in this survey.
Wild turkeys range
throughout Monroe
County. As such, many of
us see turkeys through
out the year on a regular
basis. In fact, we see them
often enough that we have
a tendency to take them
for granted. However, we
should never assume we
will always have an abun
dance of turkeys living
close by.
In Monroe County and
most of the rest of the state,
the wild turkey is fac
ing significant challenges
brought about by changes
in land use and human
population growth. Con
comitantly, in the future,
Wildlife Management
Section wildlife biologists
Jacob Moore
commits to
Shorter
Jacob Moore of Forsyth
committed last week to
play football for Shorter
College in Rome. The son of
Brian and Amisha Moore,
Jacob is a senior lineman
for Covenant Academy.
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Tickets can be purchased at
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Stephanie Crews 404.323.1086
A turkey hen walks with her poults down a dirt road. To insure scenes like this in the
future, help Georgia Wildlife Resources biologists with the survey of the 2022 turkey
population. (Photo/Needpix.com)
will be tested to find ways
in which the wild turkey
population can continue to
prosper.
One easy way for us to
help them with this task
is to take part in surveys
such as this. Having more
data to work with will bet
ter enable them to closely
monitor the status of this
valuable resource. By so
doing, we will help ensure
we will enjoy local turkey
hunting (and watching)
well into the future.
Although we are a few
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weeks away from the 2022
Wild Turkey Hunting Sea
son, now is a good time to
make plans to participate
in this valuable survey.
For more information
regarding participation in
the survey, visit the Georgia
Wildlife Division website.
Terry Johnson is retired
Program Manager of the
Georgia Nongame-Endan
gered Wildlife Program. He
has written the informative
column Monroe Outdoors’
for the Reporter for many
years. His book, “A Journey
to Discovery,” is available at
The Reporter. Email him at
tjwoodduck@bellsouth. net.
one month FREE!
Markets Are Lower.
Why, And Where Do
We Go From Here?
By Jason D. Jungberg
jason.jungberg@stifel.com
January proved to be
a tough month for the
markets, with the S&P
500 down 8.98% and
volatility, measured by
the CBOE’s Volatility
Index, VIX, up 45%.
Here’s what happened:
Elevated Inflation -
Prices are up across
various inflation
measures, and compa
nies are feeling the
increased costs squeeze
their profits. Inflation
may remain elevated in
the first half of the year,
but could decrease
gradually as the econo
my moves past the
winter surge in corona-
virus cases and as supply
chain disruptions work
themselves out.
A More Hawkish
Federal Reserve (Fed) -
The Fed appears on track
to deal with inflation by
ending its tapering
program and starting to
raise interest rates in
March. Markets had
been jittery ahead of the
January meeting, but
appeared to settle down
after Fed officials indicat
ed they would take a
measured approach to
these actions.
Geopolitical Tensions
- Geopolitics provided a
backdrop for markets,
both in the U.S. and
abroad. Domestically,
there was bi-partisan
support for pandemic
relief and infrastructure
in 2021, but the run up
to the upcoming
midterms may mean less
gets done this year.
Historically, markets are
often more volatile
heading into, and
through, midterms.
Outside the U.S., the
Russian invasion of
Ukraine has created
increased uncertainty
for markets.
Omicron - The latest
coronavirus wave has
been fast and hard-hit
ting, with staff shortages
and worsening supply
chain issues reducing
economic activity to
start the year.
Earnings Season -
When investors are
nervous, as they are for
the reasons mentioned,
any negative news or
earnings reports can
further drag on markets.
Looking ahead, Stifel
Investment Strategy’s
base case - positive
equity performance with
higher volatility -
remains intact. The
Investment Strategy team
believes interest rates
should be range-bound
with inflation settling
down later this year. The
Fed provided markets
with a better sense of its
hawkish shift; and less
uncertainty helps to
smooth out volatility.
The situation in Eastern
Europe continues to
evolve, but the U.S. has
limited direct exposure
to Russia. Omicron
should be short-lived,
with economic activity
picking up later in the
first quarter. Additional
ly, further market moves
due to earnings disap
pointments should be
dampened by the
eventual recognition that
fundamentals remain
strong.
After months like
this, it’s good to remind
ourselves that long-term
investments inevitably
experience volatility
along the way. Having a
plan can help you
navigate whatever the
markets bring.
Past performance is
not indicative of future
results. No one can
predict the markets with
any certainty. The
Standard & Poor’s 500
Index is a capitaliza
tion-weighted index that
is generally considered
representative of the U.S.
large capitalization
market. VIX is a trade-
marked ticker symbol for
the Chicago Board
Options Exchange
Market Volatility Index, a
popular measure of the
implied volatility of S&P
500 index options.
Indices are unmanaged
and are not available for
direct investment.
Article provided by Jason
D. Jungberg, a Senior
Vice President/Invest
ments with Stifel, Nico
laus & Company,
Incorporated, member
SIPC and New York Stock
Exchange, who can be
contacted in the Macon
office at (478) 803-9340.