The Off Season

This time of year is reserved for cookouts, turkey hunting, fishing, and scouting. Although, it is quite early to start scouting, it’s fun to get out and see what the birds are up to. Similar to turkeys, waterfowl are breeding, sitting on nests, or leading little ones to and from the closest form of water. It is a pretty neat thing to see. Whether you are a hunter or not, no one complains about baby geese marching around parking lots and parks (that’s reserved for when they’re older).

Turkey season is a great way to get outside and is also a good excuse to inspect your shotgun. I usually don’t get greatly overwhelmed by this season, but this year has been fun. I had the chance to harvest a beautiful mature bird on opening day, and a second the day before season went out.  I had a close call, trying to call a bird in for a close friend a few weekends ago, and we’ve had a blast chasing the old thunder chickens. We had worked a bird all morning and finally had him within just 15 yards, but we’ve all been there… he came in directly behind us. I’m sure I’ll write something about it in the future, but hopefully with a happy ending. To hear the full scoop on my opening day bird, you can read my article at the Gallia Hometown Herald, under “Outdoor Outlook”.

With May, comes fishing. After you’ve given a noteworthy shot at a longbeard, try to hit some stripers on the river. May is usually a productive month for Hybrid Striped bass to make a run, and it’s also a great chance to see what kind of birds are in the area.

April was a fantastic month for bird watchers throughout Ohio. Species I saw on the river included: Buffleheads, Lesser Scaup, Pintails, Black Ducks, and Widgeon. One night while bass fishing on a lake near Jackson County, I spotted several full plumage Blue Winged Teal. To me, a full plumage teal is one of the most beautiful birds. They are rare to see around these parts, and their story is just as beautiful as their coloration.

Teal are the last bird to leave, and the first to come back. Cinnamon teal are primarily a western bird, and unless you travel, you’ll never see one. But blues, and sometimes even greens, pass right through our state. In September they start their flight, which leads them to the Gulf of Mexico, Central, and even South America. They soak up the warm weather until early to mid-April, providing us with a glimpse of their spring plumage as they travel through to nesting sites.

Songbirds are everywhere. Indigo buntings, blue-winged warblers, and gold finches are in abundance this year. Magee Marsh, near Lake Erie, has had a number of birders in the past few weeks appreciating the wildlife. Some of these birders volunteer to clean up the park, and help the DNR by removing certain unwanted plants that are poisonous to songbirds.

Get out and enjoy this weather while it’s here. In a few months, we’ll be lying in a snowy field or breaking ice with our waders.