nesting season thus far....

B

benelli-banger

Well-known member
I reckon that we're in the early stages of the critical part of the nesting season...I monitor the weather pretty closely, and, stay in touch with several farmers in the area where I hunt...I would think that things are going pretty well thus far. I looked at the 10 day forecast for Mitchell, and it looks pretty good. We did get about an inch of rain late last week, which was a good thing--been dry lately--but I don't think it was overly cool for an extended period of time during or after the rain. It has now warmed up quite a bit, and it supposed to be warm for the foreseeable future. Last spring was cooler and wetter if I recall correctly...feeling OK about things thus far. Keep the fingers crossed!
 
Banger, I just came back from the farm and share your thoughts. We got a lot of rain but slow and even. The ground is saturated. Seeing a lot of birds. 1 roosters had 11 hens to himself on a picked bean field. We need heat and dry now.

I think it will be until end of June until we know what we got in way of broods.
 
Even possible?

We heard (from a friend-of-a-friend deal) that during a family reunion up in Watertown a few weeks ago the chicks were so thick that they were swarming the roads in the mornings in some spots. I commented that it sure seemed early to be seeing ANY chicks, much less mass quantities like that, but anyone have any thoughts? Even possible???
 
jsdyro said:
We heard (from a friend-of-a-friend deal) that during a family reunion up in Watertown a few weeks ago the chicks were so thick that they were swarming the roads in the mornings in some spots. I commented that it sure seemed early to be seeing ANY chicks, much less mass quantities like that, but anyone have any thoughts? Even possible???
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jsdyro,

I hate to say but this does sound like a classic "friend-of-a-friend" embellishment.

I have heard of no chick reports so reports of "gobs" of them is highly suspect.

Cautious hens are too wary with their broods to parade them out in the open as well.

That's Allstates stand........
 
I just checked monthly precip totals for key areas around state of SD (Aberdeen, Highmore, Timberlake, Presho, and Lake Andes)

Everybody was below average but got rain in April and May. Only Lake Andes was about 1.5" above average for May.

A hot dry June would be good for birds. Famrers would prefer a little more moisture though I suspect.
 
I cut hay last week in SE SD and did not see very many birds nesting. Seems like there was fewer than normal. Maybe they found other places to nest which would be a good thing. I hate it when I run over the nests with the cutter.
 
I should have known I would jinx the subject if I brought it up...looks like the temps are going to be on the cooler side over the next week or 10 days...sorry!!!!
 
I talked with 3 camp owners from Dewey, Hyde and Edmunds counties today and no one is reporting chicks yet.

I did learn something I was not aware of and I always assumed if you saw a hen they did not have a nest but I guess that is not the case. I'm told they come off the nest to feed when conditions permit and are not a threat to eggs/nest.

There should be some starting to bust open soon though!!
 
I hope I am wrong, but I have to believe that chicks started hatching some time ago...they probably don't get paraded around too much by mama until they are several days old. Like I said, I hope I am wrong...tough conditions to survive in...15-20 degrees below normal and rain mixed in there doesn't work too well. Did I say I hope I am wrong????
 
delahunter834 said:
UGUIDE
Do you have a up date on nesting conditions?
thanks
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DelaHunter,

I got a few reports of chicks sightings both on north end of state and south end. Rainfall totals are below average for June for all camps but Pheasant Camp Lodge and Cattail Haven which are SW of Mitchell about 45 miles. Temps are forecast to be above 80 for highs for rest of month .

So except for heavy rainfall in the south things look pretty good for nesting and hatch.

The nesting cover was always above average and with moisture there should be good insects for brood food for next couple months.

Like the owner of Aberdeen North said "with all the cover it will be hard to tell how many brood are out there."
 
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