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Post by HighCotton on Feb 3, 2021 7:50:33 GMT -5
Travel in the past few weeks has taken me through Illinois to west Missouri. At one point, I had to divert off I-70 just to see where the geese were landing on the outskirts of Vandalia, IL. Amazing sight and sounds from hundreds, if not thousands of birds! Had the same thing near Hannibal, MO and Pittsfield, IL a few days later! Shot some cool video but I have no idea how to post a video here! However>>Couple pics:    |
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Snows!
Feb 3, 2021 9:14:08 GMT -5
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Post by whitetaildave24 on Feb 3, 2021 9:14:08 GMT -5
That’s a lot of birds. Had some fly over the house last weekend. First time I’ve ever seen any.
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Snows!
Feb 3, 2021 11:19:31 GMT -5
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Post by firstwd on Feb 3, 2021 11:19:31 GMT -5
I'm curious if their numbers have continued to increase enough to push them into Indiana, or 8f the heavy pounding they get during the conservation season has shifted their traditional migration route.
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Post by duff on Feb 3, 2021 18:07:54 GMT -5
Growing population. Same with specks
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Snows!
Feb 8, 2021 10:34:32 GMT -5
duff likes this
Post by jman46151 on Feb 8, 2021 10:34:32 GMT -5
In the southern US rice production has also shifted east during the last 10-20 years. Along with a growing population this may be shifting their migration pattern.
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Post by HighCotton on Feb 25, 2022 17:51:51 GMT -5
So this is a video of the geese I took last year of the snow geese migration in Illinois. This was less than a mile outside of Vandalia, Illinois on January 26, 2021. Curiously, I only saw this massive flock in one large field. www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmIhz9DNF7EYesterday, I saw the geese in smaller flocks in many fields and they stretched along I-70 for almost 40 miles. I know very little about these birds and find it interesting that the migration pattern is so diverse. Tons of questions come to mind. Like, Is there a late hunting season in Illinois for these/ Is this a primary migration route? Why such a difference in the timing of this year compared to last year? Why were the birds in such a huge flock in one field last year and then this year I saw many smaller flocks stretching for miles? Are these all snows? Are some specs and blues? Anyway, Some pics from yesterday:    |
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Post by duff on Feb 27, 2022 19:01:58 GMT -5
Mississippi flyaway is a major flyaway. The big shallow lakes and big rivers are great roost ponds.
There is a spring hunting season for snows and blues. Starts Feb 1. No limits,, no plugged guns and use of enablers. The specks and few honkers are off limits.
Timing is all weather related. One of the outfitters near Vandalia posted on Facebook that ma nature has been hard on them this year. Warm clear days are great migration days. They will kill birds to end of March.
The difference between a huge field full vs spread out can be difference between a migration day vs non-migrators. Or just because....
I hunted around Carlisle Lake 3 times over past 5 yrs. We would see 100s of thousands in a day. Lucky to get 20 in the decoys. 1 day we had a fantastic afternoon. Killed 2 of 3 birds from daylight to 10 am. About 1100 every flock that floated by committed. Then at 2pm they avoided us like normal. I think we had 60 that day.
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Snows!
Mar 23, 2022 9:19:43 GMT -5
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Post by treetop on Mar 23, 2022 9:19:43 GMT -5
I’d swear I have snows on my pond right now
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Post by duff on Mar 23, 2022 9:36:26 GMT -5
Probably
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Snows!
Mar 23, 2022 9:49:06 GMT -5
Post by esshup on Mar 23, 2022 9:49:06 GMT -5
You need a spotting scope with a camera adapter for it.  Next time I'm over that way I'll make sure to throw my spotting scope in the truck. I don't have the adapter for it, but I have taken a cell phone picture thru it of a group of Bull Elk that were 1400 yds away. It's a lot easier to take the picture if you have the adapter. |
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Snows!
Mar 23, 2022 9:55:21 GMT -5
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Post by treetop on Mar 23, 2022 9:55:21 GMT -5
I have never seen them here |
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Snows!
Mar 23, 2022 9:57:06 GMT -5
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Post by treetop on Mar 23, 2022 9:57:06 GMT -5
You need a spotting scope with a camera adapter for it. Next time I'm over that way I'll make sure to throw my spotting scope in the truck. I don't have the adapter for it, but I have taken a cell phone picture thru it of a group of Bull Elk that were 1400 yds away. It's a lot easier to take the picture if you have the adapter. I got some halfway good glass but I’m looking through the window also if I open the slider most everything takes off |
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Post by esshup on Mar 23, 2022 21:45:27 GMT -5
You need a spotting scope with a camera adapter for it. Next time I'm over that way I'll make sure to throw my spotting scope in the truck. I don't have the adapter for it, but I have taken a cell phone picture thru it of a group of Bull Elk that were 1400 yds away. It's a lot easier to take the picture if you have the adapter. I got some halfway good glass but I’m looking through the window also if I open the slider most everything takes off You gotta learn how to silently open the slider about 6". |
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Next time I'm over that way I'll make sure to throw my spotting scope in the truck. I don't have the adapter for it, but I have taken a cell phone picture thru it of a group of Bull Elk that were 1400 yds away. It's a lot easier to take the picture if you have the adapter.