(Press release): Dewlap…caruncles…snood…we’re talking turkey!  If you’d like to learn about the natural history, habits and habitats of the Eastern wild turkey, the Nashua River Watershed Association (NRWA) invites you to join us for our free “Let’s Talk Turkey: Turkey Ecology” presentation on Wednesday, September 16^th, at 7:00 PM, at the Milford Town Hall, 1 Union Square, in Milford, New Hampshire.  Mark Ellingwood, game programs administrator with NH Fish and Game, will talk about basic turkey biology, as well as New Hampshire’s successful restoration and management of their wild turkey population.  New Hampshire is on the northern fringe of turkey range, and that fact poses some interesting challenges for the birds, particularly during their long cold winters.  Mark will even demonstrate fall turkey calls.

Mark is a certified wildlife biologist (CWB) with The Wildlife Society.  After completing his Bachelor’s degree at U-Conn, he received his Master’s degree in wildlife management from West Virginia University.  His graduate thesis focused on the breeding ecology of the American woodcock.  Mark worked for five years as a deer research associate in New York and nine years as a deer biologist in Connecticut.  He has been with NH Fish and Game for 15 years, where he currently coordinates their deer, moose, bear, turkey, small game, furbearer, and wildlife damage control programs.

This presentation is part of a series of free programs, open to the public, which the Nashua River Watershed Association is offering in celebration of its 40^th Anniversary.  Over the course of the year, NRWA will be presenting a program in each of our 32 communities; visit www.NashuaRiverWatershed.org for additional information.

 Pre-registration is requested for this free presentation.  To pre-register, please contact Mark Archambault, NRWA Smart Growth Circuit Rider, at (978) 448-0299, or email MarkA@NashuaRiverWatershed.org.  The NRWA is a non-profit environmental organization that depends on memberships for support.