Discover Auburn Lecture Series presenting Will Gulsby and the decline of wild turkeys March 23

Published: March 16, 2022

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Auburn University Libraries’ Discover Auburn Lecture will host Will Gulsby in a program titled “What’s in a gobble: understanding and addressing wild turkey declines in Alabama and the Southeast.” The program will be held March 23 at 3 p.m. in the Caroline Marshall Draughon Auditorium on the first floor of the Ralph Brown Draughon Library. Attendees may attend in person or join virtually via Zoom here.

Once considered for the national symbol of America by Benjamin Franklin, who considered the wild turkey a “bird of courage,” wild turkey populations are in decline throughout many parts of their range. Second only to the white-tailed deer, wild turkeys are one of the most popular game species among hunters in the U.S., and as such play a significant role in hunting license sales and the conservation funding they generate. Gulsby will discuss the history and current status of turkeys in Alabama as well as his ongoing research to address turkey population declines, which is funded by the Alabama Wildlife Federation and Turkeys for Tomorrow.

Gulsby, who holds both a master's degree and doctoral degree from the University of Georgia, is an associate professor of wildlife management in Auburn's College of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences where his research and teaching focus on applied management of wildlife populations and their habitats. His research is funded by the Alabama Wildlife Federation and other nonprofit conservation organizations, and uses data gathered from both public and private lands.

The program is open to the public and there will be a question and answer period after the lecture.

Submitted by: Jayson Hill