migration is on

[JaMak84]

I was wondering if all the grain left in the fields due to farmers not getting it out because of weather will stop short any birds. Just a though

I was wondering the same thing myself, but at the same time how much of that grain is actually going to be of nutritional value to the ducks. In a lot of the fields I've seen that were harvested before the rains the farmers haven't been able to work over and the grain has germinated. Soybeans at this point are starting to reseamble oatmeal. I'm predicting good hunting in backwater areas, river banks, and the such where late spring and early summer water produced a lot of barnyard and smartweed vegetation.

[driveby]

I sure hope you're right on the hot spots.

[Wingman]

It's always been my belief that unless all that grain (the viable seed) is covered up by 6" of snow or more, then the birds will stay up there and feed on it. They don't just make the trip to the Deep South for the heck of it. They'll only move when all other resources are exhausted or inaccessible most of the time.

This belief was confirmed watching The Fowl Life last week. They showed a group of Canadas coming in and landing and they immediately sat down on the snow. Chad said they do this to melt the snow so they can feed on the exposed grain below. They've got to eat when it's cold and they can't afford to waste any time searching for food.

I think the ducks can find the natural stuff just fine and there should be plenty of it this year. The geese on the other hand will probably have to scrap for the good grain that is left in the South. I predict all of the fields that have been cut prior to now will have virtually no nutritional value in terms of grain. The fields cut after all of this will be the best bet. The geese will switch over to green stuff fairly early, so if you can find a wheat field (if it dries up enough to get wheat planted) and/or winter weeds, the geese will be in those areas much sooner than normal.

[Wingman]

Okay, I'm on the "sighting" board now. Group of specks flying southwest over mi casa yesterday before the front.