Ugh more rain

[Eric Grims]

I can't help but think that 2017 is shaping up as a very rough year on the grouse and turkeys in NE Vermont given the repeated rain and cold we are experiencing right now. It's not looking promising. I see the single hen turkeys coming out to the fields from the thick but who knows yet how the nests behind them are faring. I'll see how we do. Let's hope I'm wrong.
On the other hand reports from the Misssquoi refuge is that they can't remember seeing so many ducks and it is thick with Black (Dusky) ducks. They have a "let nature take it's course" approach from management and a lot of us think the predictors (raccoons) hit the ducks awful hard in the reserve. This rain should help. I think the number of nests there that get raided in a dry year is staggering.

[Eric Grims]

Oops "predictors" not predictors. Sorry.

[Eric Grims]

PREDATORS
I do still love my Mac in spite of spell correct.

[Dean Romig]

I hope you're wrong Eric, but I fear you may be right.

Grouse and turkey chicks that are constantly wet and cold suffer huge losses to pneumonia.

Ducks and geese seem to be the only ones that benefit from all this wet weather - but even their nests can get flooded and be destroyed by quickly rising water.

And the pollination of corn, apples, and other crops will suffer as well.

We'll just have to wait and see - there's nothing that can be done.




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[Dean Romig]

You can shut off that feature Eric.





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[Gary Laudermilch]

My son, a forester, has seen four grouse broods in the last two weeks despite the cold, rainy weather. Of course, they are still young and susceptible to the perils of the weather. Still, a good sign. I saw a hen turkey yesterday with a passel of little ones, still without feathers. She had to have 10 or more.

We can always hope.

[Craig Larter]

Funny year here in western NY tons of rain and cold but the dogs have been flushing Woodcock this week which I have never seen.

[Richard Flanders]

No rain yet and too damned hot here. It hit 90deg yesterday.