Cicadas good for Turkey?

[Crghss]

So Cicadas should make things better for turkey numbers? We can only hope.

https://www.outdoorlife.com/conservation/cicadas-turkey-hatch/

[AppalachianHollers]

Haven't seen the swarm we were promised in SE Tennessee. So the turkeys around here might not be benefitting as much as the article promises. I remember 2011 we were swarmed by a 13-year brood, so 2024 will be a good offseason for turkeys, Lord-willing.

But for Brood X, I hear cicadas are more numerous further north, closer to Knoxville.


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[WV Flopper]

 They are spotty here where I live in the eastern panhandle of WV. Have heard reports of deafening swarms just a tad west of here. But all extra bugs I would think would help.

[Mountainburd]

They are covering every square inch of my 5 acres. They're up and down the length of all my trees on my property. Piles of them everywhere. They're buzzing all day long in every direction.

[Kylongspur88]

Heard them for the first time today. Should be plenty of food for the poults this summer

[rifleman]

WVFlopper,  I also live in the EP near Martinsburg and the cicadas aren't that bad at all on the farm I hunt here.  I hunted on the Blue Ridge East of Charles Town and not many there either and not many birds were talking in either of those places.

[sswv]

had a bumper crop of them here in southern WV last year but so far none here this year. I know every time they show up just about whatever has a mouth eats them.

[eggshell]

It's well documented that brood survival rates are better in cicada years. Here's one article I found and there are is research that backs it up:

https://www.purdue.edu/fnr/extension/billions-of-cicadas-are-coming-this-spring-what-does-that-mean-for-wildlife/

[Vintage]

There heavy in my part of Ky.

[saltysenior]

protein

[jhoward11]

Nowhere to be found one day and the next they are everywhere. (Southern In.) Saving me lots of money on dog food! All 3 shepherds are filling up on them. If they are, I know they Turkeys are. We should have 30 lb turkeys next season.lol