Date: Fri, 25 Nov 2011 20:22:35 -0500
Reply-To: Nancy Crosby <ncrosbyrd@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Georgia Birders Online <GABO-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From: Nancy Crosby <ncrosbyrd@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Safety Issues: [GABO-L] Big blackbird flocks + harvested peanuts
& grains
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
We have had these flocks all my life as my Dad and brother harvested
peanuts and grains in the fall in Tattnall County between Reidsville and
Claxton, GA . Now my nephews usually begin harvesting in September and
continue through October but this year they worked well into November to
get all the peanuts harvested. PROBLEM IS: DOVE SHOOTS ALSO OCCUR OVER
THESE FIELDS !!! It is not safe to be around the fields during a dove
shoot!!!!! Also is private land and you should not for any reason assume
you are welcome by the farmers who invite their friends for dove shoots.
We just returned "home" for a funeral to hear yet another story of Ospreys
being gunned down by rednecks who don't want the big birds eating fish from
their ponds... and it is still common for poultry farmers to shoot hawks
near their chicken houses. They also reported that Eagles are becoming
more common on the south east Georgia farms.
Nancy and John Crosby
Shellman Bluff/ Harris Neck Area
On Wed, Nov 23, 2011 at 2:28 PM, Nate Dias <offshorebirder@gmail.com> wrote:
> I have a question for the old hands among you Georgia birders. But
> first some background:
>
> Over here in South Carolina, farmers have been growing peanuts in
> increasing amounts over the past 10 years or so. As a result, we have
> been treated to a Fall birding spectacle that takes place in
> conjunction with the peanut harvest. The harvest takes place in two
> stages. First, farmers drag plowlike devices behind their tractors;
> these devices have rows of tines and they pull the peanut plants out
> of the ground. The peanut plants then fall off the tines and are left
> in shallow rows. The exposed peanuts are then left on the ground for
> a few days to dry.
>
> This harvest mostly takes place in October, with a few late-planted
> fields being harvested in November or on rare occasions even early
> December.
>
> Despite the comparatively early timing in terms of fall/winter
> blackbird flocks - in recent years, locals and a few clued-in birders
> have really enjoyed the spectacle of 6-figure Icterid flocks feeding
> on the drying peanuts. The flocks primarily consist of Red-winged
> Blackbirds, Common Grackles, and Brown-headed Cowbirds. These flocks
> often contain rarities like Yellow-headed Blackbirds and on the
> periphery, or in nearby areas, one can also find Brewer's and
> occasionally Rusty Blackbirds. Raptors are also drawn to such large
> flocks.
>
> * My questions are: do y'all see such things over in Georgia? If so,
> has it been going on for a long time? Does your peanut harvest take
> place around the same time (October, with some in November)?
>
> Thanks for any info you can provide - I find this an interesting, yet
> little-discussed birding phenomenon.
>
> Nathan Dias - Charleston, SC
> PS The past 2 years, this phenomenon has been much reduced for some
> reason. The peanuts have been there, but not nearly the Icterids...
>
> You must be a subscriber to post to GABO-L.
> Instructions for subscribing (and the guidelines) are found here:
> http://www.gos.org/gabo.html. Please read the guidelines before posting.
>
> Send regular postings to gabo-l@listserv.uga.edu
>
> To search GABO-L archives or manage your subscription, go to
> http://www.listserv.uga.edu/archives/gabo-l.html
>
> To contact a listowner, send message to GABO-L-request@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
>
--
Nancy Crosby
1308 Sea Way NE
Shellman Bluff, GA 31331
912 832 2797
You must be a subscriber to post to GABO-L.
Instructions for subscribing (and the guidelines) are found here:
http://www.gos.org/gabo.html. Please read the guidelines before posting.
Send regular postings to gabo-l@listserv.uga.edu
To search GABO-L archives or manage your subscription, go to
http://www.listserv.uga.edu/archives/gabo-l.html
To contact a listowner, send message to GABO-L-request@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
| 
