Burning of nesting cover

[ctlfdr]

I was out a couple of days ago and seen several crep and crp fields burning. I just thought it seemed a little late. How many clutches of ducks were lost. I know some geese are close to hatching out. Seems to me that all these guys think about is pheasants.

[Jackpine Rob]

Short-term pain, but long-term gain.

Most waterfowl that lose an early nest will start all over again. I've seen it happen here in the yard with woodies and mallards, where the first nesting was a bust so they went back and did it again.

All is not lost.

Of course, the burning has some real benefits in the long-term, so I wouldn't get too worried or upset. Those fields will come back with a vengeance after a burn, and provide some good cover/habitat, perhaps more effective and efficient than what was there earlier.

[B. Amish]

or they could be burning the crp because it expired and now its gonna be cropped.

[LandDr]

Prescribed burning could be done for a few reasons...1) coming out of CRP (however research has been shown that this is not the best site prep), 2) going back into CRP (requires interseeding additional species of grasses and flowers), 3) part of "mid-contract" requirements for burning (as part of the 4 to 6 year management needs) or 4) it is being burned to stimulate establishment or the landowner is paying for it themselves.

Most of the time it is part of mid-contract management.

Very true...without burning, the invasive trees and grasses take over and the cover gets to "thatchy" which is not desirable nesting cover. Research shows that as the thatch gets too thick, nesting use goes down dramatically. Versus the few years after a burn, nesting use goes up 4 to 5 times until it starts to get to thatchy again.

Also, most initial nests are not as good as the 2 and 3 nest attempts. First nests can often be "dump" nests which there are too many eggs and unproductive eggs. If a hen sits on a dump nest too long, it could be negative. Here second and third nest has the best number of eggs for what she can manage as well as the highest success. The 4th and 5th nests get less and less eggs and the eggs get smaller...as well as the chicks are later which makes them more vulnerable to being mature enough to make it thru the winter.

Ducks and pheasants are prolific nesters...they will keep nesting up to 4 or 5 times until they have a brood. They will not generate two broods however. Even if they have one or two chicks, they are done and will only raise that one or two. When you see small chicks later in the nesting season, that is not a second brood but is rather a hen that just kept renesting until she had her first brood.

When we set up burns for landowners, we try to burn only part of the cover to leave escape and nesting cover. Sometimes the government program doesn't allow that flexibility however.

LandDR

[carpshooterdeluxe]

Those fields will come back with a vengeance after a burn, and provide some good cover/habitat, perhaps more effective and efficient than what was there earlier.

Truth. Burning = Great. Grazing/mowing = Good. Trapping = bonus birds.

[Musky Buck]

Could burn the entire county I duck hunt, I mean goose hunt in, wouldn't change duck numbers in our county, by the time they can fly they're gone for others someplace else to hunt. Saw goose hatch number 1 this morning, a year ago if it was the same gander was the same nest sight May 4th last year. 18 wood duck boxes, checked them none had woodies in them, 20 years ago they fought over them and all were used, what's the deal ?

[ctlfdr]

I understand the reasons for burning. Just thought it couple have been done sooner. Typical government deal.

Duck #'s look great in my area. Haven't seen this many birds in a long time.

[WaveWacker]

The Gov. has nothing to do with the timing of a burn. They actually cut off how late you can burn at May 15th (this year it is extended I believe to compensate for the wet spring/bad burn year). Also, at times waiting longer to burn and allowing other undesirable species to grow one will acheive better management goals. Going along with what was said earlier. 1/2 step back to make 2/3 steps forward in the future.