I agree that it is an interesting paper, if not a fair bit of opinion.
I think most wildlife biologists are in agreement that grouse populations do change in cycles, all other things being equal (predator population and human influenced habitat changes). I began to notice a significant grouse decline in CT back in the mid 70s, and also an increase in Turkey populations. Prior to this point, we had no wild turkey in CT for generations. I never put the two facts together back then.
The state of Maine has perhaps the largest forrest management program in the country, due largely to the huge logging and pulpwood industry it supports. Still, with this fact in mind, state biologists who have spent years studying grouse populations (Grouse hunting in Maine is second only to the snowmobilers in off season income) feel wild turkey are among the larger number of bird predation.
|