Avian Bird Flu or possible UFO abduction.

[Ditchmaster]

Here in northern MT I thought it was going to be a good year. Saw lots of chicks and different sized birds going into September. Then the birds started to disappear and come season the numbers are not good, I have been seeing similar reports on the SD forum. My question is are the chicks more susceptible to avian bird flu and any other virus? I know there are a lot of predators around but the broods I was seeing were flight capable.

Landowners and some of the wildlife folks observed the same thing. The few roosters we have been getting have a lot of times been 2nd year birds except for two that took expert marksmanship to identify and bag because of their smaller size and lack of color(quail hound is my witness). Anyway the numbers in my opinion are not indicative of what we were seeing in August and early September.

Maybe the UFO's got em. I hope they bring them back soon just like on Close Encounters, heck I'd even play em a five noted tune on a keyboard if that is what they want. Anybody have any real science as to what happened, the cover and weather was good, the hatches were successful, something happened to the chicks and enquiring minds want to know what it was.

 

[BleuBijou]

Too many variables to guess accurately.... Chicks can get chilled ,overheated, Predators,farming practices like spraying,bailing can all lead to an early demise. Just lots of things can happen. Also there is the old saying that you see about a third of what is really there, but that doesn't explain your take of older wiser birds because the younger ones usually get taken first because of lack of experience...My answer is I have no clue!!!:cheers:

 

[Ditchmaster]

Ufo

That is a good answer, man do I miss the 90's bird populations.:cheers:

 

[Ditchmaster]

Uf oh no you didn't

I guess these guys don't really know for sure either.
http://gfp.sd.gov/wildlife/diseases/avian-influenza.aspx
http://fwp.mt.gov/fishAndWildlife/diseasesAndResearch/diseases/avianInfluenza/

 

[BritChaser]

It's UFOs for sure. The aliens are intergalactic pheasants come to Earth to liberate their own kind and return them to a world where they rule.

 

[Pointing lab]

Avian influenza is pretty deadly in a poultry facility or enclosed area. I highly doubt that there is any widespread impact on pheasant in the wild. Hard to say what is going on though.