take a guess 2010 upland

[floatinghat]

With the mild, mild winter and spring what will 2010 look like?

[Shootmoore]

More depends on the weather after they hatch I think,  If we have a dry spring should be a good year.

Shootmoore

[BigGoonTuna]

i'm already drooling at the prospects of another good grouse season coming up.  you eastern guys can have your pheasants!

[Birdguy]

The winter conditions have little impact on the upland birds when compared to the hatching and rearing weather. A warm dryer spring early summer with good bugs will be far more beneficial to the birds then a mild winter. There maybe more breeding birds but it does not matter how many get hatched if none live through to cold wet spring rains  .

[Old Dog]

  and good habitat.

[Skyvalhunter]

My guess is that the weather will be nice and produce a great hatch!!

[hogsniper]

I hope there are as many grouse this year as last!   Im calling for a great hatch!!!!   The ruffed grouse were starting to drum right before this latest cold spell hit in the NW.   Praying for a mild spring!!!

[floatinghat]

I talked to a friend who "knows" some people in the weather prognostication business for the gubment and they are saying the spring will be dryer and warmer than normal.

[Birdguy]

I talked to a friend who "knows" some people in the weather prognostication business for the gubment and they are saying the spring will be dryer and warmer than normal.

That is the general forcast for an el Nino (sp) weather year. What we get can be different. If we truly get warm and dry, combined with our light snow pack it will be a year for forest fires and the woods maybe shut down for grouse, and other species as well.

and good habitat.

Old dog you are absolutely right about the habitat, but I thought we all new our habitat was poor or we would not be too worried about the season at all . If the birds had what they needed there would always be plenty. Funny how mother nature shows us we are wrong and she is right .

[Tealer]

East side quail are already starting to do the "dance" looks like we could get 3 good hatches. Should be good for all birds with the weather, plus the bugs are out earlier this year.

[bobcat]

plus the bugs are out earlier this year.

You must be right about the bugs; I just pulled a tick out of my dog this afternoon.

[floatinghat]

BG,  He was saying it would be warmer and dryer than a "typical" EN year.  I guess there was something different with the ocean upwelling.

Either way I'm hoping to get to Cook Canyon once more this season.

[Tealer]

plus the bugs are out earlier this year.

You must be right about the bugs; I just pulled a tick out of my dog this afternoon.

Yep they are out in force, really early. One thing some don't ralize is that quail and pheasant chicks eat bugs more then grains and seeds. Bugs early really helps the chicks.

[antlerbolic_bearoids]

pway fo lots of gwasshoppa 

[Skyvalhunter]

More so than anything hope for a warm and not so wet spring.