Waterfowlers in portions of the US will have a little something extra to be thankful for over the holiday weekend. A Clipper System is driving across the Great Lakes and into the upper Atlantic Flyway putting ducks and geese on the move.
Hello folks, and as always, welcome to Waterfowler.com.
Waterfowler.com wishes all our members and guests a Happy Thanksgiving. Have a safe, successful and enjoyable holiday.
We would like to remind everyone to take a few moments to remember those who are serving our country, away from home and family and all those affected by the recent tornadoes and hurricanes. Keep all of them in your thoughts as the Holiday Season progresses. Consider sending care packages to our troops and donations to relief organizations helping those who have lost so much in the turbulent weather that has hit so many parts of the country.
And now, on to the Migration Report.
PACIFIC FLYWAY
Heavy fog and still winds will make waterfowling tough over the next few days. As the stagnant air is driven out over the weekend, waterfowl activity should increase along the flyway.
A cold front will move into the upper and central portions of the flyway over the weekend, improving both migration activity and gunning for most of the flyway.
As the cold weather moves down the flyway, reaching well into the Sacramento Valley by the weekend, hunting is likely to improve dramatically. The migration of white fronted geese, larger puddle ducks and divers is primed to make a major jump as the mercury falls.
CENTRAL FLYWAY
After a major warm-up the upper portions of the flyway will return to more typical weather as Thanksgiving draws near. A return to sub-freezing temperatures and snowfall will help keep the migration moving over the next week.
Reports from North Dakota last week indicated a major movement of ducks and light geese moving through the state, heading for points south. This push may have been stalled by the recent run of above average temperatures, but the coming of another round of cold weather should get the birds back on track and on a more active feeding pattern.
Thus far, reports from South Dakota to the Texas Coast indicate a good concentration of waterfowl distributed all along the central and lower portions of the flyway. The overall bird numbers should improve over the next week, but the peak of the migration activity is most likely to be focused in the mid-tier states.
MISSISSIPPI FLYWAY
Strong northerly winds, colder air and thickening ice are in store for much of the western portion of the upper flyway. Significant snowfall from the U.P. of Michigan and around the eastern portions of the Great Lakes can hardly help, but put the birds on the move.
Initial reports indicate another influx of birds out of Canada into the upper flyway, with an accompanying shift of birds into the mid tier and lower flyway states having already begun.
The most significant migration for the upper and mid flyway will be for the states around and below the eastern Great Lakes. Heavy Lake Effect snowfall is predicted for that region. As the snow piles up, the migration into and through the area is predicted to be significant.
Southern portions of the flyway should see a boost in waterfowl abundance as the winter weather takes hold in the north. The most significant increase for hunters will probably be in light goose numbers, but an increased concentration of ducks is a safe bet as well.
ATLANTIC FLYWAY
As the clipper moves east, the winter weather is primed to move birds both out of the Great Lakes and down from Canada. A snowy Thanksgiving for the upper flyway looks to be in store.
As the snow falls to the north, overnight lows will dip below freezing as far south as South Carolina by the weekend. The rapid cool-down should push a noticeable number of birds down the flyway before the weekend is out.
Southern portions of the flyway will also benefit from this weather system. Heavy snow for the northern flyway and freezing temps in the mid coastal states will put many smaller ducks on the wing headed for “Sunny Florida”.
Happy Thanksgiving!
