What Are They Eating?

[Dotch]

Maybe a silly topic but was interested to know what others have been finding in the birds' crops, gizzards, etc., when cleaning them. Yes, goose gizzards are good tasting and good for you! Anyway, what I've found here in the birds we've shot thus far (mallards, bw teal, Canada geese) is crops and gizzards full of primarily barnyardgrass seed, foxtail seed that's still green and smartweed seed. There was a dead coot someone must've squashed in the road overnight on the end of my driveway. It was loaded with the same thing. Just curious...

[Dean Schellinger]

The wood ducks I have been shooting have been chuck full of acorns, and some filled up with corn. Those woodies sure love those acorns.

[poutpro]

mallards completely full of soybeans

[JEV]

The ones I've cleaned have had grain in their crops. Wheat or barley, not sure which...

JEV