Heading north on Rt 414 this morning at 7:30 AM, about 2 miles north of the 96/96A intersection in Ovid, at least 30 Turkey Vultures were scattered around the ground in a field that appeared to have had hay cut recently (maybe yesterday judging by the dark green color) and gathered into long parallel heaps. I couldn't stop to observe carefully, but they seemed mostly to have their heads up (not eating on the ground) and no two were together. Any idea what was up with them? Seems like a heck of a lot of birds for the odd vole or bunny that would have been killed in the haying process.
Alicia On 9/10/2014 11:47 AM, Nancy wrote: > Yes, these are fields of harvested grains-oats, wheat and rye I > believe. So short enough for the mallards to be gleaning leftover grain. > > Cayuga Dog Rescue has saved more than 450 dogs since 2005! > Learn more at cayugadogrescue.org <http://cayugadogrescue.org> > > > Sent from my iPad > > On Sep 10, 2014, at 9:10 AM, Jody W Enck <j...@cornell.edu > <mailto:j...@cornell.edu>> wrote: > >> Hi Nancy, >> Thanks for the post about flocks of mallards in farm fields. It >> brought back fond memories of growing up on our farm in south-central >> PA. Sometimes mixed flocks of dabbling ducks would land to feed in >> our harvested small grain fields (wheat, barley, oats) in late >> summer, but they seemed especially attracted later in the fall and >> early winter to the harvested corn fields. They would come and go at >> different times of day, but I have wonderful memories of lots and >> lots of birds coming into those fields between sunset and dark. Much >> fun! >> >> Thanks for the memories. >> Jody >> >> Jody W. Enck, PhD >> Program Development and Evaluation >> Cornell Lab of Ornithology >> >> *From:* Nancy <mailto:nancycusuman...@gmail.com> >> *Sent:* Wednesday, September 10, 2014 8:58 AM >> *To:* CAYUGABIRDS-L <mailto:cayugabird...@list.cornell.edu> >> >> There have been flocks of a couple hundred mallards in the ag fields >> around our house lately. Is it unusual to see them in such great >> numbers on land? They have been in the field at the corner of Perry >> City and Dubois rds, and also in the field next to our home at 5011 >> Dubois. Along with lots of geese... >> >> Nancy Cusumano >> >> Cayuga Dog Rescue has saved more than 475 dogs since 2005! >> Learn more at cayugadogrescue.org <http://cayugadogrescue.org> >> >> >> Sent from my iPad >> -- >> >> Cayugabirds-L List Info: >> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME >> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES >> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm >> >> ARCHIVES: >> 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html >> 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds >> 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html >> >> Please submit your observations to eBird: >> http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ >> >> -- >> > -- > *Cayugabirds-L List Info:* > Welcome and Basics <http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME> > Rules and Information <http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES> > Subscribe, Configuration and Leave > <http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm> > *Archives:* > The Mail Archive > <http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html> > Surfbirds <http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds> > BirdingOnThe.Net <http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html> > *Please submit your observations to eBird > <http://ebird.org/content/ebird/>!* > -- --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.com -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
