16ga.com ~ View topic - PC Dave

been down to the cabin in Bath NY area quite a bit lately . Have been trying to pick off the Ash trees in the yard before they can create havoc . Have NOT heard a grouse drum in over a yr - very unusual ! This wkend , one was feeding under a birdfeeder , and the following morn , this rain started and is still here today . Anyway , went out on the porch Sunday with my coffee , and there was the little lady squatting under the back of the Bronco . Nice , dry spot and no worries ! Didn't seem to concerned by me . Looks to be the only one around and no wonder no Drumming ! Have to put a little pan of seed under there next trip !

16gaDavis,

Well one thing is for sure if you saw one Grouse there are about 10 more around that you do not see. Glad you have a Grouse close up to your camp, always beautiful wild birds to watch. Send us some of your rain we have been pretty dry here on our northern tier all summer. We could use a little of that water right about now! It is always disturbing when you do not hear the male Grouse drumming, I have not heard much drumming myself, but have been see young Grouse on our road back to my log cabin now and then. At one time a few years back we actually had to stop the Bronco II and chase them off our road, that has not happened for the last few years now.
Nothing much has changed as far as the food base and habitat on my place, transplanted more tee berry last year, I should be seeing more birds around our log cabin.

all the best,

Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man

Joined: 17 Jan 2014 Posts: 1387 Location: Denver, Colorado

At our house on the Lake of the Woods, there is a Nannyberry bush (can't think of the proper name at the moment, viburnum?) right next to the shore of the bay. Every year now (for many, many years now) there is at least one bird under it feeding of the fallen fruit. Last year, I was concerned that the tradition wouldn't continue because of all the recent development along the shore lines there, but...last year a little mixed-phase bird continued to show up until all the fruits were gone. This year, because of all the flooding the area has endured, I'll be shocked to see anything, but you never know of course. I'll be headed up there in a couple off weeks to empty out the flood-damaged outbuildings and haul stuff to the dump. I'm hearing the main house survived but.....not much else.

It sure would be neat to be proved wrong and have another bird show up there some morning.

Dave , I can't believe you didn't get any of this wkends(and week) rain down there . We got it Sat nite and again Sun/Mon . They put the zone below Bath ? Elmira at 4-6 inches . Same here at Canandaigua . It just stopped here this am - since Sun !

LLoyd . they don't seem to be like deer - grab a mouthfull or 2 and move on . I'll bet that if that bush had berries , he'll be there !! One wants what one wants !

16gaDavis,

No doubt about it if the food base is present the Grouse hardly ever move more than a mile from the place they were born, without the proper food base the Grouse must move to survive. I have planted many different kinds of perennial Grouse foods on our property and as long as the flying predators are kept in check the Grouse flourish.
Forest habitat in all the different stages makes great Grouse habitat. For some reason the Grouse on my property really like the Tea Berry and have been eating it for generations. The acorns from the big oak trees on my property can sometimes have the Grouse eating right out side our front door, and using the picnic tables to keep from getting rain soaked. Nothing beats great habitat for a decent Grouse population.

all the best,

Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man

Tea Berry, Wintergreen, Checkerberry, Boxberry - it is called by a lot of different names and in Northern Michigan I have always heard it called Wintergreen. In Michigan the amount of fruit varies from year to year. In the years when the fruit is heavy I always find the birds feeding on it in for breakfast and supper, frequently in fairly large groups, so they must travel for it.
Good Hunting,
Mike

Joined: 17 Jan 2014 Posts: 1387 Location: Denver, Colorado

Remember Teaberry gum?

No, but I remember Beemans, Black Jack and Clove.
Good Hunting,
Mike

Gentlemen,

Good hunting to you gentlemen, Grouse season is in some western states, right round the corner here in Pa.

Hunt safely and keep a close eye on your dogs.

all the best,

Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man

Good book to review as Grouse season open!

well , spent 21/2 days at the camp - mostly chasing down a tire change ! You would think a town as big as Bath that it would be easy - NOT !!! Had to junk yard it and get 2 used tires/rims .... 2 days !.... Did have 2 bucks and a doe hanging around the pear tree - millions of pears , the only fruit that hatched on the property ! Will draw lots of critters , maybe even the Birds ! A squirrel came in as big as a woodchuck - will have his number a little later in the fall ! Got to believe if there's a Bear nearby , he'll zero on that tree - the trail cam will tell .

16gaugeavis,

Squirrels that old & size are usually pretty tough eating, might want to let that big squirrel live as breed stock for some younger tastier eating squirrels.

all the best,

Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith