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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,596 Likes: 36
Lunker
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OP
Lunker
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,596 Likes: 36 |
I spotted one of my eastern bluebirds dead in the pond yesterday, a very large bullfrog had half of it stuffed in it's mouth and had drowned it. I few hours later found the bluebird floating near the shore, grrrr.. I'm guessing this was one of the mated pairs we have using in the nesting boxes near our house.
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,713 Likes: 35
Administrator Lunker
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Administrator Lunker
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,713 Likes: 35 |
Mother nature is still in control and not always nice to our way of thinking.
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,596 Likes: 36
Lunker
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OP
Lunker
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,596 Likes: 36 |
I know, eastern bluebirds are somewhat scarce around here, we are right on the edge of their western range. I would have prefered the BF had wacked a sparrow. My folks put out bunch of bluebird nesting boxes and tried for 15 plus years and never had them nesting at their old place. My folks seemed a little annoyed when they found out we had them nesting at our new place. My mom told she once saw a BF take down a robin one time while she mowing around their pond. I think I am going to have to give frog legs a try later this summer.
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 814
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 814 |
What? Bullfrogs eat birds? The dark side of Kermit.
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 20,043 Likes: 1
Hall of Fame Lunker
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Hall of Fame Lunker
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 20,043 Likes: 1 |
I spotted one of my eastern bluebirds dead in the pond yesterday, a very large bullfrog had half of it stuffed in it's mouth and had drowned it. I few hours later found the bluebird floating near the shore, grrrr.. I'm guessing this was one of the mated pairs we have using in the nesting boxes near our house. When I lived at home my dad was really excited to see a Bob White quail on the property. We also lived on the edge of their range as some of our winters really do them in. Anyway, he was driving the pick up truck down to the barn and the quail smacked against his windshield and was killed instantly. He was very disappointed to say the least!
If pigs could fly bacon would be harder to come by and there would be a lot of damaged trees.
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 10,458 Likes: 2
Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 10,458 Likes: 2 |
When I lived at home my dad was really excited to see a Bob White quail on the property. We also lived on the edge of their range as some of our winters really do them in. Anyway, he was driving the pick up truck down to the barn and the quail smacked against his windshield and was killed instantly. He was very disappointed to say the least! Poor guy...
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 6,980 Likes: 15
Ambassador Lunker
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Ambassador Lunker
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 6,980 Likes: 15 |
Eastern Bluebird huh? I'm looking for the frog that preys on Canada Geese and Great Blue Herons.
"Forget pounds and ounces, I'm figuring displacement!"
If we accept that: MBG(+)FGSF(=)HBG(F1) And we surmise that: BG(>)HBG(F1) while GSF(<)HBG(F1) Would it hold true that: HBG(F1)(+)AM500(x)q.d.(=)1.5lbGRWT? PB answer: It depends.
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 10,458 Likes: 2
Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 10,458 Likes: 2 |
Eastern Bluebird huh? I'm looking for the frog that preys on Canada Geese and Great Blue Herons. That'd be one scary frog... They're called alligators? HAHA
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 6,980 Likes: 15
Ambassador Lunker
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Ambassador Lunker
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 6,980 Likes: 15 |
"Forget pounds and ounces, I'm figuring displacement!"
If we accept that: MBG(+)FGSF(=)HBG(F1) And we surmise that: BG(>)HBG(F1) while GSF(<)HBG(F1) Would it hold true that: HBG(F1)(+)AM500(x)q.d.(=)1.5lbGRWT? PB answer: It depends.
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,544
Hall of Fame Lunker
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Hall of Fame Lunker
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,544 |
Quail are scarce over by you Cecil,? We have about the same winters here and we have them everywhere around here (1000 CRP around my house), pheasants are scarce but I still see them quite often when the fields are cut or burnt off..
I believe in catch and release. I catch then release to the grease.. BG. CSBG. LMB. HSB. RES.
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,058 Likes: 278
Moderator Lunker
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Moderator Lunker
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,058 Likes: 278 |
Quail have all but disappeared in Texas. I and a neighbor bought some to restock but it didn't work. Lots of theories but not any sure thing about what happened. Not enough rain, too much rain, habitat change, fire ants, hogs are all theories.
I built some bluebird nests and actually got some nesting. Then the squirrels got into the nests.
It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.
Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.
Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 86
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 86 |
Dave, I believe the reduction in fur trade resulting in less trapping and hunting of furbearers is having an effect on ground nesting birds, especially quail in Texas. When I was young (a long time ago) we used to run our trap lines before school. A big coon would bring close to $30 back then. I don't know of anyone that traps any more, and very few still hunt coons with dogs. I get pictures of double digit coons hanging off my deer feeders at night.
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,755 Likes: 34
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,755 Likes: 34 |
Very few quail around here. Just a few around here and there.
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 390
Hall of Fame
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Hall of Fame
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 390 |
Hardly any quail in this part of NC. Seen them regular 25 years ago when foxes were scarce, and there were no coyotes here.
"I have not failed, I have only found 10,000 ways that won't work" Thomas Edison
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 10,458 Likes: 2
Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 10,458 Likes: 2 |
My dad still traps. He's nuts about it. There are a few trappers out there but no profit. The dinky amount one makes off most furs is not worth the effort. So it has to be a hobby. He does some nuisance trapping which is a bit profitable. IMO though, it is habitat loss and fragmentation that has led to the decline of quail and pheasants, at least here in the east.
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,565 Likes: 850
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,565 Likes: 850 |
IMO though, it is habitat loss and fragmentation that has led to the decline of quail and pheasants, at least here in the east. Bingo! "Clean" farming practices (no fencerows, etc) have a lot to do with it too.
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 10,458 Likes: 2
Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 10,458 Likes: 2 |
Here in the east and even Midwest, many areas that used to fields are now forest or housing developments. The "clean" farming is a huge factor. The increase is the use of fescue species is too. Fescue growths in thick matts, while most native grasses are clump forming giving run ways for the birds to use. Good habitat, birds can overcome predation, mediocre or bad habitat, they just can't handle it.
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 6,692
Hall of Fame 2015 Lunker
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Hall of Fame 2015 Lunker
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 6,692 |
Pretty rare to see a Pheasant or Quail anymore.
They use to be so thick that you had to watch out while driving down the road. I had a Pheasant fly into my grill one morning on the way to work.
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 149
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 149 |
I hear them quite a bit but I have a neighbor that has a big set aside field too. Turkeys are making a comeback too.
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