As I get older I begin to believe that spring nesting weather has a more prominent role in gamebird production than any other single factor. I am not diminishing the value of habitat, nor do I want to start yet another habitat backlash rant, Obviously, without habitat, there is no place to nest, brood, or winter over. Habitat is what we can and should continue to control. I will submit that all the great habitat in the world will go largely unpopulated without a good warm and moisture moderate spring. I see this in my home state of Missouri, where we have had dreadful nesting seasons since 2007. It is particularly obvious with quail, and we have areas with reasonable pheasant populations, but age groups heavily skewed to older birds. Nesting for several years having been compromised. I would suspect a great area of Iowa, NE Kansas, SE Nebraska, to be in the same category. We have had low carryover from severe winters, and no "super compensation" hatch, in spring due to poor nesting conditions.
Spring weather and affects on gamebirds
- Thread starter oldandnew
- Start date
1pheas4
Moderator
I don't think anyone would disagree Oldandnew.
I can only speak for the Midwestern states here, and yes, our spring conditions have been poor for successful hatches the past few years.
We are all hoping for a great spring conditions to boost our bird #'s!
I expressed some concern this past fall when all the birds I flushed were two to three year old birds (within my county). Nice site for the eyes, but not good for future bird populations.
Also, even with extreme winter kill on pheasants. If spring hatching conditions are good to great, birds can bounce back within a year or two as long as the habitat is there (as you mentioned).
I can only speak for the Midwestern states here, and yes, our spring conditions have been poor for successful hatches the past few years.
We are all hoping for a great spring conditions to boost our bird #'s!
I expressed some concern this past fall when all the birds I flushed were two to three year old birds (within my county). Nice site for the eyes, but not good for future bird populations.
Also, even with extreme winter kill on pheasants. If spring hatching conditions are good to great, birds can bounce back within a year or two as long as the habitat is there (as you mentioned).
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quail hound
Moderator
Spring weather has a huge effect on bird populations. One bad year around here puts a big hurt on the quail, multiple bad years and they are very scarce. Then one year of great spring weather and they are back, 2 or 3 good years in a row and coveys seem endless. Here's hoping for good spring weather for all, ours is shaping up great right now.:cheers:
Ranger Rick
Member
How abou the affects of pre-nest blizzards?
Cold, wet weather when the chicks are first hatched is deadly. This past Sunday I saw my first robin here in NC Wisconsin. Woodcock migrations mirror those of the robins and a friend has been finding them on their peenting grounds. Tuesday-Wednesday we got hammered with a foot of wet, sticky white crap. The robins were eating freeze-dried crab apples from th trees in my yard, but I wonder what do the timberdoodles so when pounded like this? Obviously it's over a month before nesting time, but can those little buggers survive this?
Cold, wet weather when the chicks are first hatched is deadly. This past Sunday I saw my first robin here in NC Wisconsin. Woodcock migrations mirror those of the robins and a friend has been finding them on their peenting grounds. Tuesday-Wednesday we got hammered with a foot of wet, sticky white crap. The robins were eating freeze-dried crab apples from th trees in my yard, but I wonder what do the timberdoodles so when pounded like this? Obviously it's over a month before nesting time, but can those little buggers survive this?
I think the overly wet Springs experienced in Southeast Kansas, and the overly arid Springs in Northeast Kansas have led to a decline in the quail population in this part of the state. At least, those are my thoughts. I agree with O&N, Spring weather is only second to habitat IMHO.
mnmthunting
Banned
It's not all good to have an early mild Spring. Better to have a latter Warm up and stay warm.
Hard on nesting birds to have that [fake] Spring then a cold, wet spell while hens are on then nest or with young broods.
Nesting weather is very critical, but so is Winter survival, we need the hens to make it to nesting.
Hard on nesting birds to have that [fake] Spring then a cold, wet spell while hens are on then nest or with young broods.
Nesting weather is very critical, but so is Winter survival, we need the hens to make it to nesting.