Wild Turkeys Foraging on Fertile Fern Fronds
With few acorns or beechnuts available due to poor crops this fall, and fairly deep snow, wild turkeys are busy foraging for any accessible food, including eastern hemlock buds, burdock seeds and the fertile fronds of sensitive and ostrich fern. These two ferns are in the same family (Onocleaceae), and their spores are borne on a stalk (referred to as a fertile frond) that is separate from the leafy vegetative fronds that are present all summer and dies back in the fall. Fertile fronds persist all winter, sticking up out of the snow as if beckoning to hungry turkeys. Upon finding a clump of these fertile fronds, a turkey will peck repeatedly at them, causing the sori (clusters of sporangia which produce and contain spores) to burst and release thousands of spores onto the surface of the snow. It is very apparent from tracks, scat and snow darkened with spores when a turkey has been feeding on ferns.
Interesting and unusual dispersal method for the ferns. I will be on the look out for turkey tracks in my favorite fiddlehead-harvesting spot.
January 14, 2013 at 3:28 pm
We’ve had a very good mast year in Virginia and little snow, so I’m sure the wild turkeys are eating well. I admire your knowledge in being able to identify ferns and thank you for letting us know about one of their dispersal methods.
January 14, 2013 at 4:30 pm
If I’m not mistaken, cinnamon ferns have a fertile frond as well?
January 14, 2013 at 4:46 pm
You’re absolutely right, Grady. I haven’t personally observed turkeys eating them, but it could very well be that they do.
January 14, 2013 at 6:07 pm