Where'd they go?

[NAMASafetyDirector]

Last year on our property which is about 90 acres which consists of mosty brush/CRP type habitat with about 20 acres of woods we had 2 coveys of sharpies with about 15 birds each. We have (3) 2 acre food plots that contain soy beans/rye grass. Used to be able to kick them out of one of the food plots like clock work for most of the summer and fall. Last year sitting in the deer stand over looking the one food plot there were 25 birds feeding in there! So far this summer/fall we have yet to spot one sharp tail or ruff anywhere on the acreage! We do have ton of Coyote in the area, just wondering if that may be contributing? Any thoughts?

[CANOPY SAM]

It's certainly possible, after repeatedly being bumped out of there, they simply moved onto a reasonably nearby area where they don't get bothered as much.

I'd wager they're still somewhere within a mile or two of your place. Sharptails are a native prairie bird. No way are they going to be completely wiped out by predators. They are smarter than that. Give it a few weeks, when a lot of the leaves drop and you can see a lot more of the open prairie and woods. They'll show up again.

As for the ruffies, that's another story entirely. We're at, or very near the bottom of the population cycle. Reports are scattered. A few folks in certain areas are seeing some birds, while a LOT of people aren't seeing any. Again, we'll likely see more birds when the leaves come down, but I'm betting they'll be few and far between regardless.