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Post by vandyvan on Jul 31, 2013 14:13:26 GMT -6
Just found out that they will be placing bait at the duck banding site at Grand River Marsh Wildlife Area today. It will be interesting to see how well they do this year.
Last year they only fired the net once (typically they try to fire the nets 4 times each season) and only captured 60 some birds (the average is 350) before they called it off. Hopefully they will have better luck this year since we aren't currently suffering from a drought. It usually takes 2-3 weeks before they have enough activity to fire the nets, so stay tuned. This should give us an idea of how the ducks are doing in that area, and probably statewide. And possibly a clue as to what kind of season we can expect this year.
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Post by koonce on Jul 31, 2013 14:24:57 GMT -6
ouch, sounds like an ambitious bunch. They had some slow times here on the river during this last stint, but made a few more outings to try and reach there goal.
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Post by teamoutlaw on Aug 7, 2013 7:33:17 GMT -6
I always wanted to participate in something like this. thought it would be neat.
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Post by koonce on Aug 9, 2013 9:39:39 GMT -6
^Ive thought the same thing, only pitfall for me is they seem to do it during the week, and well summer is go time in the construction world which leaves no time during the week days.
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Post by vandyvan on Aug 12, 2013 9:41:53 GMT -6
I was on the volunteer list last year but then they had to cancel everything. Was planning to go this year but I took a spill and now I'm sidelined for a while, doubt I'll be able to go. I'm just hoping I'll be up and running by hunting season.
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Post by vandyvan on Aug 28, 2013 9:03:22 GMT -6
They have had the bait out for a while now and are finally getting a few duck taking it, although so far it seems like the geese are eating most of the corn. They are going to get some trail cams set out to monitor how many ducks are coming in and are hoping to fire the net next week, probably on the 5th or 6th.
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Post by vandyvan on Sept 16, 2013 15:15:38 GMT -6
Another slow year. They fired the net once and captured 223 birds. Birds weren't really coming to the bait in the numbers they would like so that's it for this year.
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Post by vandyvan on Aug 4, 2014 9:20:56 GMT -6
Just received notification that they have started setting out bait for this years banding project. Looking to start around the 3rd or 4th week of Aug.
Coincidentally, I was just up at the Grand River Marsh yesterday looking around. Water levels are OK, a little bit better than last year at this time I'd say. Hopefully this year they will be able to fire the nets a few times and actually run the program without having to shut it down early. I hope this year I get a call to participate.
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Post by Tanner Wildes on Aug 4, 2014 16:57:17 GMT -6
Yeah I hope so too!! I was up in that area too, the water is a bit low but not to bad I thought. I did think that the rice crop this year was lower than the last couple of years.
Tanner
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Post by vandyvan on Aug 29, 2014 12:31:20 GMT -6
Well, they finally got to fire the net yesterday and it was pretty successful. They captured 519 mallards, 15 wood ducks, and 2 pintails. That's pretty good, especially for the first outing of the season.
I've been trying for at least 3 years to get out on this project but I've never gotten to go yet. Based on yesterdays success they will probably do it at least once, if not twice more this year. Crossing my fingers that I'll get the call.
Funny thing, I was planning to hit the Grand River area for early teal next week. They captured over 500 birds and apparently not a teal among them. Although that's not a huge surprise I guess.
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Post by vandyvan on Sept 2, 2014 10:26:05 GMT -6
I got the call! Heading to the Grand River tomorrow to band ducks. Hopefully I can get some pics.
Hoping it brings good karma from the Duck Gods!
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Post by Tanner Wildes on Sept 2, 2014 10:55:41 GMT -6
Wow nice!!! Let us know how it goes! That's pretty exciting!
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Post by vandyvan on Sept 2, 2014 12:43:09 GMT -6
Wow nice!!! Let us know how it goes! That's pretty exciting! Yeah I'm pretty psyched.
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Post by Tanner Wildes on Sept 3, 2014 16:52:52 GMT -6
How'd it go?
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Post by vandyvan on Sept 3, 2014 18:03:13 GMT -6
It was amazing. I will try to get some pics up when I get a chance. Our counts for today are shown at the end of this post. Included in the mallard numbers was a "blonde phase" mallard shown below. It's a normal mallard hen in all respects but it lacks the full pigmentation of a regular mallard due to a genetic condition. It was banded and released. How would you like to harvest a banded, blonde mallard? I know for a fact there is at least one out there! Duck totals: 451 total ducks captured 423 mallards (34 adult males, 38 adult females, 187 immature males, 164 immature females) 1 immature male pintail 11 wood ducks (7 adult males, 3 immature males, 1 immature female) 16 recaptured (previously banded) mallards
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