I am wondering how this past winter will/has effected the unland bird populations? (quail, phesant, sharptail, huns, chukar, grouse)

It can't have done them any good. We have some birds around still and the question will be what kind of nesting and hatching season we get.

That's the deal we have in southwestern Montana right now. Some birds survived--but the moisture from the snow resulted in plenty of good nesting cover. We'll know more later in the summer....

We should have a good chukar hatch and survival if the cold rains stop soon. With a wet winter and spring there is a lot of feed in the early green-up, and I'm seeing a lot of grasshoppers.

Without the grasshoppers chukar starve in late summer and early fall. We ran into numerous scattered small coveys of young birds late last fall and early winter, so the brood stock will be younger and more productive hens. Cold rain around nesting and hatching times kill the hens on the nests.

It's up to the rest of this spring's weather.

Arizona had a wet winter and spring, as evidenced by the wildflower bloom in the deserts. I am hopeful for a good Gambels quail crop this fall. Mearns rely more on summer rains for brooding, so we shall see what this summer brings.

I went out in the country this morning and things are quite green here. Should be hens on nests right now; I saw no hens at all this morning. Plenty of bugs out there, the small grain is coming nicely. So far so good

Very wet spring so far, if we’re going to have birds they’ll have to come from the second hatch.

Was very warm and dry in south central BC this spring. Saw two chukar coveys with the chicks already flying this morning. And blue grouse chick flying yesterday....so looking good so far as long as the fires don't get going locally.

I'm involved in a project where there are a bunch of sharptail hens wearing tracking transmitters in western Montana. We should know in a month their nesting success rate and brood survival.

I'm hearing from NE Montana (Plentywood) that it has been very wet and cool, and farmers are seeing pheasants courting again, and gray partridge pairs in the roadsides, suggesting some portion of the first hatch has failed.

I wasn’t expecting much this spring. However, it seems I’ve seen about the same amount of strutting roosters FWTW, and if the present weather pattern is any indication, the chicks will seem to miss any cold wet weather for awhile as our lawn already looks like we are in in late July.

Showers predicted for tomorrow. Here’s hoping..

[quote=GrouseChaser]I'm involved in a project where there are a bunch of sharptail hens wearing tracking transmitters in western Montana. We should know in a month their nesting success rate and brood survival.


Is your study West of I -15?

Yes.

We've had some hot weather this week but some really good rains also. Lots of bugs out there, I'd say things are looking good here

Regions 5 and 7 in Montana are forecast for 1-5 inches of rain thru this Sunday. Yikes!

Huge general rain across the pheasant belt today. Major lift for pheasants I'd think.

Curious- why would a "huge general rain" at peak of first hatch be a major lift for pheasants?

Rain makes Bugs. Bugs are protein and Pheasant Chicks need protein to thrive.

I'm sure he understands that, and wasn't why he asked the question but rather that rain-soaked newly hatched chicks might not get to take advantage of the insect bloom. Just as I'm sure you understood what he's pointing out.

Is mid-June when hatching peaks in the pheasant belt? At what age can chicks tolerate being wet?

That’s why they nest under the Hen until they can regulate their own body temperature. That may take a couple weeks under normal temps.

A general rain doesn’t flood the nest and the Hen keeps them warm and dry.

Without the rain, they’ll stay warm, but they won’t thrive.

https://www.pheasantsforever.org/Habitat/Pheasant-Facts/Effects-of-Weather.aspx

Lots of the pheasant belt east of here is in a general drought right now at the time when the grasses and crops need to do their growing if they're going to at all. Rain in August won't do much for the grass or crops. A shortage of rain then in turn will make for a shortage of feed which, perceived or real, will cause farmers and ranchers to hay and graze places they might not have to otherwise. So in the face of that reality, a general rain over the pheasant belt causing cover and forage to grow is a major lift for pheasants.

Saw a brood this am sitting on the edge of a gravel road getting out of the wet grass. They were about the size of mourning doves.

Awesome I haven't seen any yet

Might report that I've seen more cottontail rabbits in this area than in quite a while They're not upland birds, but in my experience they survive winters pretty much like similar-sized upland birds, though the "hatch" is more variable.... In general, good bunny years have been good upland years.

John, we’ve noticed this in our neighborhood also, but Mr. McGregor, my neighbor is convinced that his garden recruits rabbits within a five mile radius. 😉

I hope your theory is the one in play here.

I've never thought of that but I can see it.

Cover should be better than the last couple years, some good areas were super thin with no rain last year.

Good explanation of your comment. I hadn't heard about drought needing relief in SD until this weekend and your report. In contrast most of Montana has been wet and more wet. Plentywood to Miles City are seeing roosters courting hens again, and Hun pairs without chicks in the roads, suggesting first nest or brood failure.

George,

Now that's funny!

But the bunnies I've seen haven't been in gardens.

John

Lots of rain in the last ten days. My brother in law has gotten ten inches in ten days. Causes problems of its own but lack of cover is always a concern. We should be in good shape going forward.