Of Turkeys and Terrestrial Temperatures: A Tale of Climate Science Oddities

In the grand halls of climate change research, where heroic scientists tirelessly study hypothetical modeled dangers of rising sea levels, disappearing ice caps, and extreme weather events, we now find a new champion. A bird. Not just any bird, mind you, but the humble turkey – yes, the bird that graces our tables at Thanksgiving and inspired Benjamin Franklin’s respect.

In a, not very fascinating, new study from North Carolina State University, researchers have presented their concern that climate change might be a threat to turkey reproduction, mainly because turkeys might not change the timing of their nesting to match shifts in climate. In other words, they fear that while the Earth might warm up, the turkeys will keep cool, staying resolute in their reproductive timing.

So, the research team embarked on an eight-year study that involved capturing female turkeys, attaching GPS transmitters, monitoring the turkeys remotely, and correlating this turkey data with weather data.

And what was the momentous conclusion of this study? Well, they found that changes in temperature and rainfall did cause turkeys to change their nesting times slightly. However, these changes were measurable in hours, not days. Under two climate-change scenarios, the timing of successful nests would shift by less than three hours. Essentially, the turkeys just hit the snooze button on their biological clocks.

This whole idea of “phenological mismatch,” where the turkeys’ reproductive cycles don’t align with food and cover resources, is also a bit rich.

Turkeys are a highly adaptable species. They have survived and rebounded from near extinction due to overhunting and habitat loss. We have them all over North America. This resilience should earn them a bit of respect, perhaps even confidence in their ability to adapt to a hypothetical warmer climate, given their already vast range of climates in which they survive, rather than consigning them to potential doom based on a few hours’ delay in nesting time.

This study is a prime example of researchers getting lost in the weeds\. Instead of focusing on substantial, impactful environmental realities, we have spent eight years tracking turkeys and worrying about their nesting times. And while every aspect of our ecosystem is essential, perhaps there are more pressing concerns that need addressing.

In any case, rest assured, folks. Climate change or not, it appears our Thanksgiving dinners are safe. Now, if only we could find a way to get the turkeys to adapt to a lifestyle that involves less, you know, ending up on dinner plates.

DOI: 10.1016/j.ecochg.2023.100075