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Joined: Dec 2003
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Had a pair of mallards fly up out of the creek by the house this afternoon.

We typically get a pair every spring, but never this early.

Maybe I should get a bag of barley and hep them out.


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Early spring might mean early rut this fall

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Two of the "Big'ones" have plowed off the mountain this week. My earliest ever in the yard was March 10'th. This is actually a week or ten days late for the big guys. It is incredible to watch them plow and "porpoise" through ten feet or more of snow. It is a steep downhill plow, but they still have to stop often and rest.


ALASKA is a "HARD COUNTRY for OLDMEN". (But if you live it wide'ass open, balls'to the wall, the pedal floored, full throttle, it is a delightful place, to finally just sit-back and savor those memories while sipping Tequila).
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Originally Posted by John_Havard
Early spring might mean early rut this fall


Rut is determined by length of day.light.


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Originally Posted by dale06
Originally Posted by John_Havard
Early spring might mean early rut this fall


Rut is determined by length of day.light.

Incredibly simplistic for here... moon phase coupled with photoperiod was established a long time ago as two major components... but just two.


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Anyway.....they'll probably get to rutting before I do.

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They were year round in Kodiak.

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I don’t know where they are nesting overnight. Knee deep snow in the trees.


If you take the time it takes, it takes less time.
--Pat Parelli

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lots of mallards overwinter in SC... I suspect they just came up off the tide flats.


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Son saw the Swans at the Kenai Lake bridge last WE


kk alaska

Alaska 7 months of winter then 5 months of tourists
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Originally Posted by kk alaska
Son saw the Swans at the Kenai Lake bridge last WE

They overwinter, too.


Mark Begich, Joaquin Jackson, and Heller resistance... Three huge reasons to worry about the NRA.
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I knew about the swans, but I see then regularly. The mallards is new info to me, not seeing the after late October or so.


If you take the time it takes, it takes less time.
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Several places here in town have open water all winter and an old lady feeds a bunch of birds just a little SW of Dimond Costco. Right now you can see little flocks of mallards around town banking into their roosts nightly.


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They fly over my place daily, all year long.
And them damn Geese.


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Mike,
Had Goldeneyes fly my place a week ago. As to return @ the flats by your place, I do not remember a year where ducks and gees were not viewable there by the 18th.
I imagine there are some few of both to be seen around then again this year. White stuff seems to be going away noticeably. . .a few bears are out now certainly. Time to run the jet up by Pothole.


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Taught a hunter ed course at the local establishment today...snow was knee to mid-thigh deep in the spruce. The students were good sports and soldiered through.

Jr. and Ranger missed out on spring ptarmigan in our usual spots this year because there was no snow crust and very high avalanche danger. Hope those mallards find some food; the forecast portends at least a week more of "bonus" winter.

Last edited by SpartanGunner; 04/03/21.

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Bonus winter indeed. Fairbanks got 10" of snow overnight with more falling. Did see some mallards on the open sections of the Chena though. Thought it was odd

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Saw the first geese of the year tonight.

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I was out starting my smoker at about 6am on Easter morning. Heard a couple mallards (surprised the schit outta me) making a bunch of racket as they were flying right down my road. Hot on their azz was an eagle putting the chase on. Kinda surprised me to say the least.

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My 62nd winter in Alaska and this is the only one I have ever been so done with smile
It will be over with (in a very good way) when I hear those Mallards! Good on ya Ptarmigan...you made my morning wink


"You've been here longer than the State of Alaska is old!"
*** my Grandaughters

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