OSU scientists studying wild turkey population decline

By Alisa Boswell-Gore STILLWATER, Okla. – Oklahoma State University scientists launched a five-year project this year to study the state’s wild turkey population. The number of turkeys in Oklahoma has steadily declined over the past 15 years, and there are a variety of factors that could be contributing to the problem, according to Colter Chitwood, assistant professor of wildlife ecology in the OSU Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management. “This is part of a…

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Honey bees are famous, but native bees are powerful pollinators

By Gail Ellis  STILLWATER, Okla. – The world’s fascination with honey bees is linked to a population decline during the past decade that threatens the production of fruit, nut, forage, vegetable and other crops that rely on pollination. The permanent disappearance of pollinators would be detrimental to society. Researchers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture report not only bees but also wasps, butterflies, other insects and birds are all responsible for pollinating more than 100…

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How to attract hummingbirds to the landscape

How to attract hummingbirds to the landscape By Trisha Gedon STILLWATER, Okla. – Hummingbirds seem to have the precision, speed and appeal of a U.S. Air Force fighter jet, and these quick-winged feathered friends are fun to watch in the landscape. Typically appearing in the U.S. from April through August, hummingbirds are the smallest of all bird species. But despite their tiny stature, hummingbirds play an important role in the ecosystem, said David Hillock, Oklahoma State…

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