Rio Grande Wild Turkey Project
Department of Natural Resources Management
Texas Tech University
P.O.
Box 42125
Lubbock, Texas 79409-2125
 |
An ongoing project under the supervision of Warren B.
Ballard and Mark C. Wallace in
cooperation with Texas Tech University, Texas
Parks and Wildlife Department, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, National Wild Turkey Federation,
and Kansas State University. This project is a the single largest study ever conducted on
Rio Grande wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo intermedia). It began in late 1999 and covers 4 separate study sites,
3 in
the Texas Panhandle and 1 in southwest Kansas. The purpose of the study
is to attempt to relate Rio Grande wild turkey life-stage success and behaviors to
habitat parameters. We currently have about 7
years of survival, reproduction, habitat, and
dispersal data from ≈1,211
radio-tagged wild turkeys. We recently completed a project focused on the evaluation of survey techniques for Rio Grande wild turkeys
in the Southern Great Plains and we are currently conducting an evaluation of
line transect-based distance sampling from roads in 4 Texas ecoregions. Other sister
projects have emerged since 2000. These sister studies are in
South Texas and the
Edwards Plateau. |
Principal Investigators:
Warren B. Ballard
Professor, Predator-Prey Interactions
Ph.D., University of Arizona, 1993
M.S., Kansas State University, 1971
B.S., New Mexico State University, 1969
Office: Old Animal Science Building 132
Phone: 806.742.1983
Email:
warren.ballard@ttu.edu
 |
Mark C. Wallace
Associate Professor, Wildlife & Habitat Management
Ph.D., University of Arizona, 1991
M.S., University of Arizona, 1984
B.S., University of Washington, 1981
Office: Goddard 007B
Phone: 806.742.1983
Email: mark.wallace@ttu.edu
 |
|
|
top |
Current
Students:
|
Matthew J. Butler |
Post Doctoral Research Associate |
 |
|
Education: |
Ph.D., Texas Tech University, 2006
M.S., University of ArkansasMonticello, 2001
B.S., Arkansas Tech University, 1999 |
|
Office: |
Old Animal Science Building 128 |
|
Phone: |
806.742.4728 |
|
Webpage: |
www.rw.ttu.edu/butler/ |
|
|
|
|
|
Devin R. Erxleben |
M.S. Candidate |
 |
|
Education: |
B.S., Texas Tech University, 2006 |
|
Proposed Thesis Title: |
An evaluation of distance sampling for Rio Grande wild turkeys from roads
in Texas |
|
Office: |
Old Animal Science Building 124 |
|
Phone: |
806.742.4732 |
|
Webpage: |
www.rw.ttu.edu/turkeyproj/people/Erxleben.htm |
|
|
|
|
|
Richard S. Phillips |
Ph.D.
Candidate |
 |
|
Education: |
M.S., Texas Tech University, 2004
B.A., Emory University, 1996 |
|
Proposed Dissertation Title: |
The influence of riparian areas on connectivity of Rio Grande wild turkey
populations in the Southern High Plains of Texas |
|
Office: |
Old Animal Science Building 126 |
|
Phone: |
806.742.4730 |
|
Webpage: |
www.rw.ttu.edu/phillips/ |
|
|
|
top |
Past Students:
|
Stephanie L. McKenzie |
M.S.,
Texas Tech University, 2007 |
 |
|
Thesis Title: |
Evaluation of a method for surgically implanting radiotransmitters in Rio
Grande turkey poults |
|
Current Position: |
Golden-Cheeked Warbler Field Biologist at Fort Hood, The Nature
Conservancy |
|
Webpage: |
www.rw.ttu.edu/turkeyproj/people/McKenzie.htm |
| |
|
|
|
Brian E. Petersen |
M.S.,
Texas Tech University, 2007 |
 |
|
Thesis Title: |
Rio Grande wild turkey diets in the Texas Panhandle |
|
Current Position: |
|
|
Webpage: |
www.rw.ttu.edu/turkeyproj/people/Petersen.htm |
| |
|
|
|
Ryan M. Swearingin |
M.S.,
Texas Tech University, 2007 |
 |
|
Thesis Title: |
Winter roosting ecology of Rio Grande wild turkeys in the Rolling Plains
of Texas |
|
Current Position: |
Wildlife Specialist, O'hare Airport, U. S.
Department of Agriculture - Wildlife Services |
|
Webpage: |
www.rw.ttu.edu/turkeyproj/people/Swearingin.htm |
| |
|
|
|
Ryan N. Walker |
M.S.,
Texas Tech University, 2007 |
 |
|
Thesis Title: |
Cottonwood distributions across the Rolling Plains of Texas and Kansas |
|
Current Position: |
Northeast Area Game Manager, Raton Field Office, New Mexico Department of
Game and Fish |
|
Webpage: |
www.rw.ttu.edu/turkeyproj/people/Walker.htm |
| |
|
|
|
Matthew J. Butler |
Ph.D., Texas Tech University, 2006 |
 |
| Dissertation Title: |
Evaluation of survey techniques for Rio Grande wild turkey
populations in the Southern Great Plains |
| Current Position: |
Post Doctoral Research Associate, Department of Natural Resources
Management, Texas Tech University |
|
Webpage: |
www.rw.ttu.edu/butler/ |
| |
|
|
|
John H. Brunjes, IV |
Ph.D., Texas Tech University, 2005 |
 |
| Dissertation Title: |
The population biology and landscape ecology of Rio Grande wild turkeys in
the rolling plains of Texas and Kansas |
| Current Position: |
Migratory Bird Program, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources |
|
Webpage: |
www.rw.ttu.edu/turkeyproj/people/Brunjes.htm |
| |
|
|
|
Galon I. Hall |
M.S., Texas Tech University, 2005 |
 |
|
Thesis Title: |
Relationships between cattle grazing and Rio Grande wild turkeys in the
Southern Great Plains |
| Current Position: |
District Wildlife Biologist, Virginia Department of Game and
Inland Fisheries |
|
Webpage: |
www.rw.ttu.edu/turkeyproj/people/Hall.htm |
| |
|
|
|
Rachael L. (Houchin) Ranft |
M.S., Texas
Tech University, 2005 |
 |
|
Thesis Title: |
Coyote predation on the Rio Grande wild turkey in the Texas Panhandle and
southwestern Kansas |
| Current Position: |
Blanco River Project, The Nature Conservancy in Texas |
|
Webpage: |
www.rw.ttu.edu/turkeyproj/people/Houchin.htm
www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/texas/preserves/art13123.html |
| |
|
|
|
Ross T. Huffman |
M.S., Texas Tech University, 2005 |
 |
|
Thesis Title: |
The
effect of precipitation and cover on Rio Grande wild turkey nesting ecology in
the Texas Panhandle and southwestern Kansas |
| Current Position: |
West Texas-Oklahoma Regional Biologist, National Wild Turkey
Federation |
|
Webpage: |
www.rw.ttu.edu/turkeyproj/people/Huffman.htm |
| |
|
|
|
Richard S. Phillips |
M.S., Texas Tech University, 2004 |
|
|
Thesis Title: |
Movements,
survival, and reproduction of Rio Grande wild turkeys in the Texas Panhandle |
| Current Position: |
Ph.D. Candidate, Department
of Natural Resources Management, Texas Tech University |
|
Webpage: |
www.rw.ttu.edu/phillips/ |
| |
|
|
|
Terri L. Barnett |
M.S., Texas Tech University,
2003 |
 |
|
Thesis Title: |
Rio Grande wild
turkey nesting ecology in Kansas and the rolling plains of Texas |
| Current Position: |
Biologist, Wetland Regulatory and Hydrologic
Consultants, Huffman & Carpenter, Inc. |
|
Webpage: |
http://www.nvwetlands.com/terri.html |
| |
|
|
|
Derrick P. Holdstock |
M.S., Texas Tech
University, 2003 |
 |
|
Thesis Title: |
Survival,
movement, and habitat selection of male Rio Grande wild turkeys in the Texas
Panhandle and southwestern Kansas |
| Current Position: |
Assistant Area Manager, Gene Howe WMA, Texas Parks and
Wildlife Department |
|
Webpage: |
www.rw.ttu.edu/turkeyproj/people/Holdstock.htm |
| |
|
|
|
Brian L. Spears |
M.S.,
Texas Tech University, 2002 |
 |
|
Thesis Title: |
Wild turkey pre-flight poult habitat characteristics and
survival |
| Current Position: |
Upper Columbia Fish and Wildlife Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
|
Webpage: |
www.rw.ttu.edu/turkeyproj/people/Spears.htm |
| |
|
top |
Project
Cooperators:
Peer
Reviewed Publications:
Butler, M. J., W. B. Ballard, M. C. Wallace,
and S. J. DeMaso. 2008. Wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)
detectability from helicopters and ramifications for estimating
abundance.
European Journal of Wildlife Research 54(1): 148152.
[online,
pdf]
Brunjes, J. H., IV, W. B. Ballard, M. C. Wallace, R. S.
Phillips, D. P. Holdstock, B. L. Spears, M. J. Butler, M. S. Miller, N. E.
McIntyre, S. J. DeMaso, R. D. Applegate, and P. S. Gipson. 2007.
Patterns of capture-related mortality in Rio Grande wild turkeys.
National Wild Turkey Symposium Proceedings 9: 7581.
[pdf]
Butler, M. J., W. B. Ballard, M. C. Wallace, and S. J.
DeMaso. 2007. Road-based surveys for estimating wild turkey density in the Texas
Rolling Plains. Journal of Wildlife Management 71(5): 16461653.
[pdf]
Butler, M. J., W. B. Ballard, M. C. Wallace, and S. J. DeMaso.
2007. Evaluation of survey techniques for wild turkey in the southern
Great Plains. Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the Southeastern
Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies 61: 113. [pdf]
Butler, M. J., W. B. Ballard, M. C. Wallace, S. J. DeMaso,
and B. K. McGee. 2007. Aerial surveys for estimating wild turkey abundance in
the Texas Rolling Plains. Journal of Wildlife Management 71(5): 16391645.
[pdf]
Butler, M. J., G. I. Hall, M. C. Wallace, W. B. Ballard, R. S.
Phillips, J. H. Brunjes IV, R. T. Huffman, R. L. Houchin, J. C. Bullock,
S. J. DeMaso, R. D. Applegate, and M. C. Frisbie. 2007.
Utility of poult-hen counts to index productivity of Rio Grande wild
turkeys.
National Wild Turkey Symposium Proceedings 9: 159168.
[pdf]
Hall, G. I., M. C. Wallace, W. B. Ballard, D. C. Ruthven III, M. J.
Butler, R. L. Houchin, R. T. Huffman, R. S. Phillips, and R. D.
Applegate. 2007. Rio Grande wild turkey habitat selection in
the Southern Great Plains. Journal of Wildlife Management 71(8):
25832591.
[pdf]
Holdstock, D. P., M. C. Wallace, W. B. Ballard, J. H. Brunjes IV, R. S.
Phillips, B. L. Spears, S. J. DeMaso, J. D. Jernigan, R. D. Applegate, and P. S.
Gipson. 2007. Male Rio Grande wild turkey habitat characteristics in
the Texas Panhandle and southwestern Kansas.
National Wild Turkey Symposium Proceedings 9:
217229.
[pdf]
Phillips, R. S., W. B. Ballard, M. C. Wallace, D. P.. Holdstock, B. L.
Spears, M. S. Miller, J. H. Brunjes IV, and S. J. DeMaso. 2007.
Movement, fidelity, and dispersal of Rio Grande wild turkeys in the Texas
Panhandle.
National Wild Turkey Symposium Proceedings 9:
149157.
[pdf]
Spears, B. L., M. C. Wallace, W. B. Ballard, R. S. Phillips, D. P.
Holdstock, J. H. Brunjes, R. Applegate, M. S. Miller, and P. S. Gipson. 2007.
Habitat use and survival of preflight wild turkey broods. Journal of Wildlife
Management 71(1): 6981.
[pdf]
Brown, A. D., J. H. Brunjes, IV, R. S. Phillips, W. B.
Ballard, M. C. Wallace, and R. J. Baker. 2006. Eggshell remains as a
non-invasive source of genetic material in wild turkeys (Melleagris gallopavo).
Occasional Papers No. 256, Museum of Texas Tech University, Lubbock, USA.
[pdf]
Butler, M. J., W. B. Ballard, M. C. Wallace, S. J.
DeMaso, and R. D. Applegate. 2006. Comparing techniques for
counting Rio Grande wild turkeys at winter roosts. Pages 112117
in J. W. Cain III and P. R. Krausman, editors. Managing wildlife
in the southwest: new challenges for the 21st century. The Southwest
Section of The Wildlife Society, 911 August 2005, Alpine, Texas, USA.
[pdf]
Hall, G. I., M. J. Butler, M. C. Wallace, W. B. Ballard, D. C. Ruthven
III,
R. L. Houchin, R. T. Huffman, R. S. Phillips, and R. D. Applegate.
2006. Rio Grande wild turkey home ranges in the Southern Great
Plains. Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the Southeastern
Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies 60: 3642.
[pdf]
Holdstock, D. P., M. C. Wallace, W. B. Ballard, J. H.
Brunjes, R. S. Phillips, B. L. Spears, S. J. DeMaso, J. D. Jernigan, R. D.
Applegate, and P. S. Gipson. 2006. Male Rio Grande turkey survival
and movements in the Texas Panhandle and southwestern Kansas. Journal of
Wildlife Management 70(4): 904913. [pdf]
Huffman, R. T., M. C. Wallace, W. B. Ballard, G. Hall, R.
Houchin, R. Applegate, S. J. DeMaso, and P. S. Gipson. 2006. Nesting
habitat of Rio Grande wild turkeys. Pages 103111
in J. W. Cain III and P. R. Krausman, editors. Managing wildlife
in the southwest: new challenges for the 21st century. The Southwest
Section of The Wildlife Society, 911 August 2005, Alpine, Texas, USA.
[pdf]
Butler, M. J., M. C. Wallace, W. B. Ballard, S. J. DeMaso,
and R. D. Applegate. 2005. From the field: the relationship of Rio Grande
wild turkey distributions to roads. Wildlife Society Bulletin 33(2):
745748. [pdf]
Spears, B. L., W. B. Ballard, M. C. Wallace, R. S. Phillips,
D. P. Holdstock, J. H. Brunjes, R. D. Applegate, M. S. Miller, and P. S. Gipson.
2005. Survival of Rio Grande wild turkey chicks. Journal of Field
Ornithology 76(1): 1220. [pdf]
Spears, B. L., K. L. Nicholson, R. T. Huffman, W. B. Ballard,
M. C. Wallace, R. D. Applegate, and P. S. Gipson. 2006. Ecology of
Rio Grande wild turkeys in southwest Kansas. Wildlife Bulletin 5.
Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, Pratt, Kansas, USA. [pdf]
Spears, B. L., W. B. Ballard, M. C. Wallace, and R. D.
Applegate. 2003. Coyote, Canis latrans - Rio Grande turkey,
Meleagris gallopavo intermedia, interactions. The Canadian
Field-Naturalist 117(4): 645647. [pdf]
Bowman, J., M. C. Wallace, W. B. Ballard, J. H. Brunjes IV,
M. S. Miller, and J. M. Hellman. 2002. Evaluation of two techniques
for attaching radio transmitters to turkey poults. Journal of Field
Ornithology 73(3): 276280. [pdf]
Spears, B. L., W. B. Ballard, M. C. Wallace, R. S. Phillips,
D. P. Holdstock, J. H. Brunjes, R. Applegate, P. S. Gipson, M. S. Miller, and T.
Barnett. 2002. Retention times of miniature radiotransmitters glued
to wild turkey poults. Wildlife Society Bulletin 30(3): 861867.
[pdf]
top
Dissertations:
Butler, M. J. 2006. Evaluation of survey
techniques for Rio Grande wild turkey populations in the Southern Great Plains.
Dissertation, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, USA. [pdf]
Brunjes. J. H., IV. 2005. The population biology
and landscape ecology of Rio Grande wild turkeys in the rolling plains of Texas
and Kansas. Dissertation, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, USA.
[pdf]
top
Theses:
McKenzie, S. L. 2007. Evaluation of a method for
surgically implanting radiotransmitters in Rio Grande turkey poults.
Thesis, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, USA. [pdf]
Petersen, B. E. 2007. Rio Grande wild turkey
diets in the Texas Panhandle. Thesis, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, USA. [pdf]
Swearingin, R. M. 2007. Winter roosting ecology
of Rio Grande wild turkeys in the Rolling Plains of Texas. Thesis, Texas
Tech University, Lubbock, USA. [pdf]
Walker, R. N. 2007. Cottonwood distributions
across the Rolling Plains of Texas and Kansas. Thesis, Texas Tech
University, Lubbock, USA. [pdf]
Hall, G. I. 2005. Relationships between cattle
grazing and Rio Grande wild turkeys in the Southern Great Plains. Thesis,
Texas Tech University, Lubbock, USA. [pdf]
Houchin, R. L. 2005. Coyote predation on the Rio
Grande wild turkey in the Texas Panhandle and southwestern Kansas. Thesis,
Texas Tech University, Lubbock, USA. [pdf]
Huffman, R. T. 2005. The effect of precipitation
and cover on Rio Grande wild turkey nesting ecology in the Texas Panhandle and
southwestern Kansas. Thesis, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, USA.
[pdf]
Phillips, R. S. 2004. Movements, survival, and
reproduction of Rio Grande wild turkeys in the Texas Panhandle. Thesis,
Texas Tech University, Lubbock, USA. [pdf]
Barnett, T. L. 2003. Rio Grande wild turkey
nesting ecology in Kansas and the rolling plains of Texas. Thesis, Texas
Tech University, Lubbock, USA. [pdf]
Holdstock, D. P. 2003. Survival, movement, and
habitat selection of male Rio Grande wild turkeys in the Texas Panhandle and
southwestern Kansas. Thesis, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, USA.
[pdf]
Spears, B. L. 2002. Wild turkey pre-flight poult
habitat characteristics and survival. Thesis, Texas Tech University,
Lubbock, USA. [pdf]
top
Annual
Progress Reports:
Erxleben, D. R., M. J. Butler, W. B. Ballard, and M. C.
Wallace. 2007. An evaluation of road-based distance sampling of Rio Grande
wild turkeys in Texas. Annual Report, Department of Natural Resources
Management, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, USA.
[pdf]
Ballard, W. B., and M. C. Wallace, editors. 2005.
Changes in land use patterns and their effects on Rio Grande turkeys in the
Rolling Plains of Texas and southwest Kansas. Final Report, Department of
Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, USA.
[pdf]
Butler, M. J., W. B. Ballard, and M. C. Wallace. 2005.
Estimating Rio Grande wild turkey populations in Texas. Progress Report,
Department of Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management, Texas Tech University,
Lubbock, USA. [pdf]
Ballard, W. B., M. C. Wallace, J. H. Brunjes, R. Phillips, G.
Hall, R. Houchin, R. Huffman, B. Bullock, B. Petersen, R. Swearingin, R. Walker,
D. C. Ruthven III, D. Holdstock, M. Janis, D. Wright, R. D. Applegate, and P.
Gipson. 2004. Changes in land use patterns and their effects on Rio
Grande turkeys in the Rolling Plains of Texas and southwest Kansas. Annual
Report, Department of Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management, Texas Tech
University, Lubbock, USA. [pdf]
Butler, M. J., W. B. Ballard, and M. C. Wallace. 2004.
Estimating Rio Grande wild turkey populations in Texas. Progress Report,
Department of Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management, Texas Tech University,
Lubbock, USA. [pdf]
Ballard, W. B., M. C. Wallace, J. H. Brunjes, R. Phillips, D.
Holdstock, G. Hall, R. Houchin, R. Huffman, J. Vacca, M. Miller, J. Bonner, C.
Ruthven, R. D. Applegate, and P. Gipson. 2003. Changes in land use
patterns and their effects on Rio Grande turkeys in the Rolling Plains of Texas
and southwest Kansas. Annual Report, Department of Range, Wildlife, and
Fisheries Management, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, USA. [pdf]
Butler, M. J., W. B. Ballard, and M. C. Wallace. 2003.
An evaluation of population estimation techniques for Rio Grande wild turkeys in
the Texas Panhandle and southwest Kansas. Progress Report, Department of
Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, USA.
[pdf]
Brunjes, J. H., W. B. Ballard, M. C. Wallace, D. Holdstock,
R. Phillips, B. Spears, T. Barnett, E. Sobeck, M. Miller, B. Simpson, J.
Jernigan, R. D. Applegate, and P. Gipson. 2002. Changes in land use
patterns and their effects on Rio Grande turkeys in the Rolling Plains of Texas.
Annual Report, Department of Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management, Texas
Tech University, Lubbock, USA. [pdf]
Ballard, W. B., M. C. Wallace, J. H. Brunjes, T. Barnett, D.
Holdstock, R. Phillips, B. Spears, M. Miller, B. Simpson, S. Sudkamp, R. D.
Applegate, and P. Gipson. 2001. Changes in land use patterns and
their effects on Rio Grande turkeys in the Rolling Plains of Texas. Annual
Report, Department of Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management, Texas Tech
University, Lubbock, USA. [pdf]
top
Other Texas
Tech University Turkey Research:
Hohensee, S. D., and M. C. Wallace. 2001. Nesting
and survival of Rio Grande turkeys in northcentral Texas.
National Wild Turkey Symposium Proceedings 8: 8591.
[pdf]
Hohensee, S. D. 1999.
Nest site selection and success of Rio Grande turkeys in the Rolling Plain/Cross
Timbers ecotone of Texas. Thesis, Texas Tech University, Lubbock,
USA.
top
This page maintained by
Matthew
J. Butler
This page created by
Matthew J.
Butler
last updated
07/14/08
