They are back

[tracker x-2]

I was out ice fishing yesterday and seen a flock of mallards fly over, on the way home my mom said she seen a flock of geese fly by her house. FYI neither of these locations in near any real flowing river.

Anyone else noticing this?

[leech~~]

They have to go where the food is.

[Musky Buck]

They never really left, the geese anyway, town has been stocked all winter, 1st time I've ever seen it like that.

[Powerstroke]

They don't need a lot of open water. There are creeks all over the place that are still open.

I work in Hopkins and the 9 mile creek starts there. Its not real big and is frozen in places, but the birds stick around and will pack in like sardines if they can.

[Gordie]

They never really left, the geese anyway, town has been stocked all winter, 1st time I've ever seen it like that.

yep they never really left they got here late and are enjoing the mild winter also. they are certainly not burning up all the calories it takes to fly south and it could mean a better season for use next year as the southern states wont be able to hunt these birds either. Which means more nesting birds.

I have also noticed alot of Bald Eagles also just about every lake I have been on or around seems to have at least a pair of them watching over the lake looking for disguarded bait and dead fish on the ice.

[JimBuck]

I've been watching a flock of mallards the past couple weeks that seems to be growing bigger and bigger and is now into the 800-1000 range. They've been methodically working a string of fields over one by one. Pretty fun to watch.

[broken_line]

i wanna go duck huntin..

[Musky Buck]

right on Gordie about the eagles, same here, every day sightings, the 1 was lugging around a deer leg in flight, not that it was flying really well, could this winter mess up nesting ? Or is it built in them internally when it's time to nest ?

[Gordie]

MB there is a deer that was hit about 50 yards off the side of the road adjacent to my house and a pair of Eagles have been feeding on that carrcuss for several weeks now and they are always flying over the lake looking for another easy meal or desert.

As for the Nesting I dont think it will screw things up its just that they didnt need to migrate as far south as they usually do and they are adapting to the seasonal weather changes.

Just like the duck and geese

I think it will benifit these birds in the long run and I also think its Mother Nature taking care of her own.

[Bryce]

Have 3 pairs of doves eating at the feeders.

[dan z]

also seen doves the other day...

[Gordie]

Another thing I have noticed is all the Trumpeter swans seem every bit of open water, mostly rivers, are holding swans of some sort I saw dozen or more off of green Lake near Isanti last week.

and 4 on Bradfod Brook north of Little Elk Lake.

They have been around all winter if you call this winter

[FBMH]

Theres still plenty ducks and geese here on the river. I see them flying every morning when i wake up.

[Maxxed Out]

80K geese on Lac qui parle still.

[Bryce]

No April's Fool joke. Eggs in the wood duck house already.

[Gordie]

No April's Fool joke. Eggs in the wood duck house already.

WOW!!

I was just telling the boys that this early spring is gonna mean more ducks and geese in the area due to the fact that they dont see to be migrating as far north and there seems to be more around here along wiith eagles and swans