Where did all the geese go

[vickieschessies]

On sat I planned on hunting at the farm where I give Hay rides with and there is normally a whole lot of geese come in there to the fields. Not this year not 1 bird anywhere. I was there for over 4 hrs and didn't even hear any flying around. Is it just because the birds are slow at molting this year due to heat. My ducks are now just coming out of molt/ What's your thoughts?

[Bufflehead]

For some reason things seem to be behind..instead of ahead like this very warm summer should have done.

 I believe that the warm temps have delayed the feathers needed for flight by this years hatch.

 That and the wild rice is unbelievable..I have NEVER! seen a rice crop like this.

 The birds are staying put where the food, water and safety is plentiful.

 Give it a week to 10days and I believe things will pickup.

 Plenty of time for good shooting, where just getting started.

 Also, the holiday crowds on the lakes are keeping the birds less active.

 Infact, the yard/lake cabin feeding by the  the seasonal folks could even be playing a roll in the northcentral lakes region.

 Again, things will pick up.

 Take Care, Chuck

[Spinach]

Too bad we cant hunt in the metro. Woodbury is full of Geese, just about on every corner with a pond close by. My office at work has a window view of a huge field, everyday at around 1:00 they fly by the window and settle into the field. Last week for some unknown reason they were not there, but everyday for the 2 weeks prior, you could almost set your watch to it.

[Benny]

I really doubt they are still molting as I seen well over 600 geese this weekend while hunting the Metro area.

Saturday we had several flocks come in close that were pushing 30 to 40 geese in each one.
Sunday at the Guided hunt in Monticello we saw around 200 total in the sky through out the morning.

Today we had two flocks of 40 each land right on top of us, with several other big flocks flying around the sod fields on the North suburbs.

The recent rains and colder evening temps has bunched them up.
And they will sit tight if they have food and water where they are at,also I am one to believe that the geese are becoming aware of the pending season at least a week in advance.

I live close to the Coon Rapids dam on the Mississippi and see few there during the summer and early fall, but the week leading up to this weekends opener they started piling in there like crazy.

Even the local soccer fields and church grassy area are now packed with them.

Drive down Handon Blvd now past the Epiphany church and your likely to be swerving to miss them on the sides of the road.

They are getting educated fast and will not fly out of the safe zone when they get scared off the fields the first time.

Benny

[Bufflehead]

Quote
"They are getting educated fast and will not fly out of the safe zone when they get scared off the fields the first time."

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 Benny I think your right on that.

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 Quote
"I am one to believe that the geese are becoming aware of the pending season at least a week in advance."

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 I also believe this.

 We were messing around with a big flock a couple weeks ago, across the road from our farm.

 They were sitting in the nieghbors oats stubble.

 We thought we would try out our call's and talk to them a little.

 They listened for a couple of Min. and got up and took off and haven't been back since.

 Maybe it just shows how bad our calling is LOL!

 Really though, I think they took that as a sign of danger/season upon them and they headed for the safe zone.

 Maybe some of the smarts of the Snows and Blues have made to the honkers now too.

 As far as the molt, HMmmm I don't know up here in the north. Also, many have seen not more than three weeks ago mother goose with a brude that was only half grown...second hatch?...re-set because they lost their first setting? Don't know but there were very young birds with mother seen in several locations

 Take Care, Chuck

[jigglestick]

hey, glad it wasn't just me, but saturday evening we saw a mother ringbill with 3 babys. not fuzz balls, but less than half grown ducklings. I told them they'd better strap on the feed bags, seasons only 3 weeks away. my daughter gave me "the look" >:(

[Benny]

Young birds won't show colors untill they old enough to start flying, most don't show colors till one year because it is natures defence for them to blend in with the suroundings.

The mature ducks should be turning brown now as well, and for the same reasons.

The lack of flight is due to there loosing the old flight feathers and replacing them.
This process usualy last around two to three weeks,then they will be able fly again.

Molting and the replacing of flight feathers are two seperate natural occurances with the waterfowl in general.
Neither is related to each other accept they may cross the same time line.

The young chicks we are seeing could be the second hatch, or the product of a late spring.
Can't say for sure as I didn't follow the weather patterns this year to see if we were in for a late hatch or not.

If the young can fly , they will follow mom when she starts to migrate.

Mom will go slow enough for babies to keep up so long as her safety isn't jepordised.

She will leave them if bad weather sets in, it is just another one of natures survival instincts.


I think the lack of birds is due to the better nesting conditions they had in Canada this year.

Many adults flew on into Canada as they were finding plenty of water and food in the Northern regions.

The locals are always here, they just shift thier nesting habits due to presure from urban spraul or nesting conditions around the cities.

Up by Jacobson, you have Rice up the kazoo, so they don't have to leave thier shelter to get water or food.

When the ricers start pounding the patties you will see more birds out there.

Benny
Benny