Thursday
Apr242008
Spring Brings Foul Play
Thursday, April 24, 2008 at 11:40AM
When I say foul I don't mean chickens on the farm - at least not yet... although they have now been ordered and are expected to arrive on the week of May 26th... No - here we are are talking about wild foul.
The excitement started a few weeks ago when Kelli watched a small flock of 4 rapidly racing birds maneuvering around out in the field. They sorta raced about as if they were on a mission to get somewhere - only pausing when I clucked from the deck with a turkey call... careening their necks around to catch a glimpse of the other bird - then back off to the races.
It wasn't too long after that - maybe three days - that Kelli snapped this photo of the group of 4 speedy hens racing across our side yard, into the front, and across the driveway. She has put an order in - I'm expected to produce 1 wild turkey this year over the May season - to be promptly placed in the smoker.
As if that wasn't enough foul excitement... As we were sitting on the deck Kelli spotted some movement at the edge of the yard... It was a male ring-necked pheasant moving across the field - watching everything around him!
Now - I recall being out on the property last spring after when "bought" the house but before we moved in and came back to tell Kelli I thought I heard a pheasant... and I also remember when we were getting the house inspected BEFORE we bought it last April the home inspector saying he heard one then too. SO, it's not really a huge shocker that we finally saw one - except for the fact we finally saw one!
I guess the really exciting things about this sighting is the fact that these guys are not supposed to be native to the area - at least for reproductive purposes... and here's a male that seems to be a year round resident. This raises all sorts of interesting options from pen raising some birds next year specifically for release to managing sections of the field specifically for pheasant cover.
Whatever comes of this - it sure was exciting - because for all my years in the field - all my experiences with nature and out in the woods... This was the first time I have ever seen a wild Ring-Neck - and I didn't even have to get out of my canvas deck recliner chair to do it!
The excitement started a few weeks ago when Kelli watched a small flock of 4 rapidly racing birds maneuvering around out in the field. They sorta raced about as if they were on a mission to get somewhere - only pausing when I clucked from the deck with a turkey call... careening their necks around to catch a glimpse of the other bird - then back off to the races.
It wasn't too long after that - maybe three days - that Kelli snapped this photo of the group of 4 speedy hens racing across our side yard, into the front, and across the driveway. She has put an order in - I'm expected to produce 1 wild turkey this year over the May season - to be promptly placed in the smoker.
As if that wasn't enough foul excitement... As we were sitting on the deck Kelli spotted some movement at the edge of the yard... It was a male ring-necked pheasant moving across the field - watching everything around him!
Now - I recall being out on the property last spring after when "bought" the house but before we moved in and came back to tell Kelli I thought I heard a pheasant... and I also remember when we were getting the house inspected BEFORE we bought it last April the home inspector saying he heard one then too. SO, it's not really a huge shocker that we finally saw one - except for the fact we finally saw one!
I guess the really exciting things about this sighting is the fact that these guys are not supposed to be native to the area - at least for reproductive purposes... and here's a male that seems to be a year round resident. This raises all sorts of interesting options from pen raising some birds next year specifically for release to managing sections of the field specifically for pheasant cover.
Whatever comes of this - it sure was exciting - because for all my years in the field - all my experiences with nature and out in the woods... This was the first time I have ever seen a wild Ring-Neck - and I didn't even have to get out of my canvas deck recliner chair to do it!
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