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Author Topic: Juvies? Molting?  (Read 1268 times)

Offline Stilly bay

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Juvies? Molting?
« on: December 06, 2011, 04:41:38 PM »
stopped by one of my favorite beaver ponds today and flushed about 30 ducks. half of them had to fight to get airborne and even then they could only go about 50 yards away.   when they landed they would continue wing flapping and swimming to get out of sight. very odd behavior for this time of year. to me they all looked and behaved like young Juvies or molters but this seems way too late in the game to for youngsters to still be working things out, and I know its not molting time so any Ideas?
"Love the dogs before loving the hunt; love the hunt for the dogs." - Ben O. Williams

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Offline Stilly bay

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Re: Juvies? Molting?
« Reply #1 on: December 06, 2011, 04:42:13 PM »
btw I believe they were all gadwalls. :dunno:
"Love the dogs before loving the hunt; love the hunt for the dogs." - Ben O. Williams

“It is easy to forget that in the main we die only seven times more slowly than our dogs.”
― Jim Harrison

Offline 270Shooter

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Re: Juvies? Molting?
« Reply #2 on: December 06, 2011, 05:19:07 PM »
why didnt you shoot them?

Sounds like something a diver would do when you jump them, but i dont know.

Offline Stilly bay

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Re: Juvies? Molting?
« Reply #3 on: December 06, 2011, 05:27:38 PM »
why didnt you shoot them?

Sounds like something a diver would do when you jump them, but i dont know.

I just had grouse loads with me.

I agree, but Im 100% sure they weren't divers.

my only other thought was that there could have been an eagle or hawk perched above, but then again they really looked rough.
"Love the dogs before loving the hunt; love the hunt for the dogs." - Ben O. Williams

“It is easy to forget that in the main we die only seven times more slowly than our dogs.”
― Jim Harrison

Offline 270Shooter

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Re: Juvies? Molting?
« Reply #4 on: December 06, 2011, 05:34:02 PM »
thats wierd, but thats also why i switched to shooting steel for everything, never have to worry about it. :tup:

Offline seth30

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Re: Juvies? Molting?
« Reply #5 on: December 06, 2011, 06:21:57 PM »
stopped by one of my favorite beaver ponds today and flushed about 30 ducks. half of them had to fight to get airborne and even then they could only go about 50 yards away.   when they landed they would continue wing flapping and swimming to get out of sight. very odd behavior for this time of year. to me they all looked and behaved like young Juvies or molters but this seems way too late in the game to for youngsters to still be working things out, and I know its not molting time so any Ideas?
I have been seeing that behavoir with the seasoned birds.  They know that if they fly they will die.
Rather be dead than cool.
Kurt Cobain

Offline WCTaxidermy

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Re: Juvies? Molting?
« Reply #6 on: December 06, 2011, 07:13:59 PM »
I agree, I don't think they would be molting this late in the year.  Gadwall are usually pairing up and courting this time of year along with the mallards.  That behavior that you described is consistent with the actions they take when they are courting.  It's kind of neat to watch them act that way......John

Offline lokidog

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Re: Juvies? Molting?
« Reply #7 on: December 06, 2011, 09:25:36 PM »
Maybe they all ate so much they couldn't get airborne?   :yike:   :chuckle:

 


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