I will do a longer report when time allows. But for anyone who wants the basic info on bird behavior and numbers...
I posted this in another thread:
Today, I found them in cattails, grasses near cattails, switch grass not near cattails, reed grass, and grasses in a strip that had 3 rows of mature deciduous trees and some bushier things along the edge. That strip was surrounded by harvested beans with plenty left on the ground for the birds. The switch grass had very nice cut corn next to it. Single digits in the morning, mid teens during the day, 11 mph wind allegedly (much greater when you are in the open or up high). It was fairly sunny.
The switch grass was golden hour. The other cover was the rest of the day and they were in those things regardless of time.
This was north central SD, east river.
I should mention, they were ultra jumpy. Hoping the cold the next two days makes them want to snuggle into some cattails, and that I can find some good potholes near food.
My number came out to be 131 birds. That did include about 2 dozen that flushed from the grasses just off the section road ditch as I drove down it to the end, where I wanted to park, and included a group that got up out of reed grass 50 yards from where I did park, before I got out (7 or so roosters in that bunch).
Where I was in NC seemed to have a lot more birds than NE did on the drive over the day before.
Good luck to all!
I posted this in another thread:
Today, I found them in cattails, grasses near cattails, switch grass not near cattails, reed grass, and grasses in a strip that had 3 rows of mature deciduous trees and some bushier things along the edge. That strip was surrounded by harvested beans with plenty left on the ground for the birds. The switch grass had very nice cut corn next to it. Single digits in the morning, mid teens during the day, 11 mph wind allegedly (much greater when you are in the open or up high). It was fairly sunny.
The switch grass was golden hour. The other cover was the rest of the day and they were in those things regardless of time.
This was north central SD, east river.
I should mention, they were ultra jumpy. Hoping the cold the next two days makes them want to snuggle into some cattails, and that I can find some good potholes near food.
My number came out to be 131 birds. That did include about 2 dozen that flushed from the grasses just off the section road ditch as I drove down it to the end, where I wanted to park, and included a group that got up out of reed grass 50 yards from where I did park, before I got out (7 or so roosters in that bunch).
Where I was in NC seemed to have a lot more birds than NE did on the drive over the day before.
Good luck to all!
