The report from the largest Iowa newspaper, huntress Juli Probasco-Sowers, gives us some statistics that are not positive for those sportswomen and men who like to head out after the Ring Necked Pheasant. Iowa Pheasant season is slated for October 25th, 2008 and runs through January 10th, 2009.
Last year I noticed a definite population decline in our neighborhood and this year, even though I have heard birds in the area, I only saw a total of three. Maybe not out at the same time they are.
Weather has definitely been a stress factor in bird health. With expanding local populations of turkey, predatory animals like coyote and fox can also create a lower number for growth . Any birds that do survive the weather are faced with other challenges for survival.
Even though Sadie, who will be six months old on the 18th of this month, won't be on the Pheasant trail this year. We are going to be waiting until next year when she will have some age behind her...and listen to commands a little better.
Here's wishing success to all those hunters who are looking to get out after that smart Upland bird the Pheasant! ;)
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Iowa Pheasant News
News I have been waiting to hear sounds a bit bleak.
The report from the largest Iowa newspaper, huntress Juli Probasco-Sowers, gives us some statistics that are not positive for those sportswomen and men who like to head out after the Ring Necked Pheasant. Iowa Pheasant season is slated for October 25th, 2008 and runs through January 10th, 2009.
Last year I noticed a definite population decline in our neighborhood and this year, even though I have heard birds in the area, I only saw a total of three. Maybe not out at the same time they are.
Weather has definitely been a stress factor in bird health. With expanding local populations of turkey, predatory animals like coyote and fox can also create a lower number for growth . Any birds that do survive the weather are faced with other challenges for survival.
Even though Sadie, who will be six months old on the 18th of this month, won't be on the Pheasant trail this year. We are going to be waiting until next year when she will have some age behind her...and listen to commands a little better.
Here's wishing success to all those hunters who are looking to get out after that smart Upland bird the Pheasant! ;)
The report from the largest Iowa newspaper, huntress Juli Probasco-Sowers, gives us some statistics that are not positive for those sportswomen and men who like to head out after the Ring Necked Pheasant. Iowa Pheasant season is slated for October 25th, 2008 and runs through January 10th, 2009.
Last year I noticed a definite population decline in our neighborhood and this year, even though I have heard birds in the area, I only saw a total of three. Maybe not out at the same time they are.
Weather has definitely been a stress factor in bird health. With expanding local populations of turkey, predatory animals like coyote and fox can also create a lower number for growth . Any birds that do survive the weather are faced with other challenges for survival.
Even though Sadie, who will be six months old on the 18th of this month, won't be on the Pheasant trail this year. We are going to be waiting until next year when she will have some age behind her...and listen to commands a little better.
Here's wishing success to all those hunters who are looking to get out after that smart Upland bird the Pheasant! ;)
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Turkey Trot
These toms found it pleasing to stop by for a few bugs twice in 12 hours. Hubby caught them yesterday evening on his camera.
Tried my amateur turkey calling skill to see what kind of reaction we would get from them.
If you watch the video you will hear all kinds of activity going on in the house. It was surprising that all the noise didn't chase them back into the timber sooner than it did.
We find each encounter entertaining from day to day...;)
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Sadie Says "Meeting the family!"
It all started Friday night, a little before midnight. Somebody was walking into my house that I had not had the opportunity to meet yet. Woke my Mom up with my barking to make sure all was as it was supposed to be.
My Dad had left earlier in the day to go to an antique airplane fly-in for the weekend...So, it wasn't him coming in.
My youngest two legged sister was bringing my 2 canine nieces and nephew to visit. The humans had plans for a family picture on Sunday.
This is the first time since leaving my mom and family in South Dakota that I have been in a doggy group. I really didn't know how to fit in for a bit. Getting nipped a couple of times by the two old ladies gave me a complex...Sorry it took me almost until the time they left to feel like I belonged to "The Pack."
Cesar Milan, "The Dog Whisperer", would be proud of us! ;)
Followed the group out for a play time in the puddles before they had to get back in the car for the long ride home on Monday morning.
I was at a loss when they were gone. Kept checking the room where they stayed while they were here,and went outside to look around where we played. Had a lot of fun being apart of their group.
Guess I will have to get in the car one of these days with Mom and Dad to go visit...
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Turkey Times
What a nice start to the Spring Turkey Hunt!
This turkey family - Hen and 4 chicks have been constant citizens in the backyard. They travel just outside the line of tall foilage to scratch.
The Hen is teaching her babies to forage for food. They all know how to fly for the tree tops as was shown one day after Sadie and I had stirred them out of hiding in the pasture. The first response was a gallop out of the high grass, lifting off to glide gracefully skyward ,only to stop at the tree tops.Having a few more rounds to make in our walk, we had the opportunity to stop and watch the Hen gathering her chicks from the perches they had risen to a short time before. Barely visible due to the ground cover, she only vocalized at brief intervals, to call the kids back to her side.
This afternoon ,we found this little family, tucked not so silently by the back of the garden. Gliding out of range into the tangle of the timber as we startled them from their hiding place...
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