Nature’s Classroom Homeschool Program

So it goes with wildlife, there has been a slight complication with the turkey release that was going to take place this weekend: the turkeys aren’t there any more!

Apparently, they have stopped visiting the bait site. Therefore, we cannot catch and release turkeys this weekend. Biologists will be setting up a couple more bait sites, in new locations, to plan for a catch in mid-February.

So what does this mean for you?

Well, if you already submitted a registration for the release this weekend, you will remain in the system. You do not need to do anything additional at this time. If you did not submit a registration because you could not make it this weekend but are still interested in participating, you can register now. I will continue taking registrations for the next few weeks or until the projected spots are filled. Once a date is determined, those people that have registered will be provided more information. At that time, if the day does not work for you, we can substitute other people on the waiting list.

This will probably be the last turkey release program offered for a while. We tend to trap them in the winter and I don’t think any more are planned after this.

Click here to register.

I know it is not the best day. However, when you deal with wildlife, you often don’t have a choice. So, I will offer this and hopefully we will see some of you out there.

Here are the details as I know them:

• Weather-permitting, on Saturday, biologists will be trapping turkeys in eastern Arizona. If they are successful, those turkeys will be brought to Mingus Mountain, near Prescott to be released Sunday morning.
• So, Sunday morning, we are allowing registered Homeschool families to come out and join us for the release. We will likely be meeting in the Prescott area (most likely Chino Valley) around 8am. If all goes well, we should be completed between 10am and 11am. Some flexibility will be required, however. Delays and changes often occur.
• You will have the opportunity to see the turkeys up close and talk to the biologists about turkey natural history and the release program. You should also have the chance to “lift the gate” and release one of the turkeys.
• All ages are welcome to attend. If any participant needs special travel accommodations (i.e., car seats, etc.), you will need to plan to use your own vehicle. It is likely that high-clearance (and maybe even 4-wheel drive) vehicles will be required for part of the journey. So, if you have one of these and would be willing to drive (and maybe take some others along with you), that would be great.
• A certain amount of waling may be required.
• Space for this event is somewhat limited and registration is required. After registering, you will receive additional information about meeting location, as well as some further educational resources.

How to Register:

• Complete the online registration form at: Turkey Release Registration  
• Registration will be  open until Thursday at noon unless all spots have been filled.

Please note: There is a possibility that this event will NOT take place. If the turkeys do not cooperate and cannot be captured, then we will have no birds to release. Therefore, all accepted participants will be notified by phone sometime Saturday. Therefore, it is best to provide numbers that I can reach you at in the afternoon and evening of Saturday.

Well, the stars have aligned…not only did the Cardinals win, but we are able to open up registration for a last minute Nature’s Classroom Program.

So, here are the details:

• Department biologists will be attempting to capture turkeys near Heber on Tuesday. If they are successful, then we will be bringing a few Homeschool families out to the release site along the Verde River Wednesday morning.
• We will be meeting in Chino Valley (somewhat near Prescott) at 8am on Wednesday morning. If you are accepted to participate more specific details will follow. It will likely last about two hours, including driving time from the meeting location to the release location. However, plan some flexibility in this time because of the nature of the event.
• All ages are welcome to attend. If any participant needs special travel accomodations (i.e., car seats, etc.), you will need to plan to use your own vehicle.
• There are approximately 10 spaces available. Registration information is below. I will contact people as soon as I can. A small waiting list will be created as well, for last minute cancellations.
• Although I will try to arrange vehicle travel, at this late notice, that might be difficult. So, if you have a high-clearance vehicle and don’t mind using it for this event, that would be great.

How to Register:

• Send an email to eproctor@azgfd.gov.
• In your email, include the following information: name, city, number of participants, email address, two contact phone numbers, how late and how early I can contact you on those phone numbers, and indicate if you are comfortable using your own vehicle to drive to the release site (high-clearance needed). In the subject line indicate that it is for the Turkey Release.

Please note: There is a possibility that this event will NOT take place. If the turkeys do not cooperate and cannot be captured, then we will have no birds to release. Therefore, all accepted participants will be notified by phone sometime Tuesday. Therefore, it is best to provide numbers that I can reach you at in the afternoon and evening of Tuesday. If you are on the waiting list, there is a possibility that a call could come later Tuesday evening or early Wednesday morning. Therefore, it is important to be specific on the times you are comfortable receiving a phone call.

Well, I received an email earlier today that seems to indicate that the turkey release may actually take place on Tuesday or Wednesday. Much of it is weather dependent in the area where the turkeys are being captured. I cannot provide any more information right now. I am waiting to get a few more details. I expect to hear some more by the middle of tomorrow. Hopefully, I will be able to post some more information at that time.

In the meantime, I have updated the calendar with some a few of the upcoming programs. Most of these are still in the planning phases so the dates are tentative. I basically provided a range of dates that the events would take place. That way, you could get an idea if the event would even work with your schedule. This is a sneak peek and only those who check the blog will know about this right now.

If you want to check out what is going to be happening, click on the Events tab at the top of this page and check out the calendar. There is new stuff posted in January, February, and March.

FYI…these are not all of the events I am working on. There are at least two more, but I am not confident on the dates yet so I didn’t want to post them. It looks, however, that it is going to be an exciting few months.

Just a reminder that I still have some spots available for the Pronghorn capture on February 11. I understand that the age restriction of 18 or older significantly reduces the number of people that can participate. However, if you know any kids in college or maybe even some seniors in high school, it may be an option for them. For more information, check out the post from a couple of days ago about the pronghorn capture or select the tag to the right labeled “pronghorn”.

Stay tuned for more information.

Many of you should have received the email yesterday afternoon stating that I had heard of a possible last minute opportunity that might take place next week involving a turkey relocation.

I just wanted to update you very quickly. As of right now, there has been no word about the event yet. If I had to guess, I would think that it will NOT be taking place. However, if I hear something else in the next day or so, this will be the first place I will post it, since I won’t be back in the office until Tuesday to deal with emails.

Even if the event does not go this week, don’t worry. I am currently working with the same turkey biologists to do an event at the end of January or the beginning of February. Details should come on that event very shortly.

Thanks for your patience and your interest in participating.