Lovie Dovie
Phil Taunton
Friday, March 30, 2007
Any outdoors person worth their salt should realize the importance of keeping an annual log or diary concerning their outdoor activities.
It’s beneficial to write down dates, times and also weather conditions or patterns that might have led up to their successful hunting or fishing adventure.
I have had great success fishing on Easter weekend during our stays at the lake during past Easter holidays. Little did I realize until just recently that the date for this special holiday observance was not set in stone like Christmas or Thanksgiving, but instead it entails a period of time that might differ by as many as five weeks.
Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon in spring. This means it could be as early as March 22 or as late as the last week of April.
As you grow older, you will realize the value of taking notes and writing things down to help you remember!
Several years ago, I was able to add a new bird to my life list of backyard bird feeder sightings and experiences. It was a white-winged dove, Zenaida asiatica, native to south Texas and southern Arizona, and it spent the afternoon at the feeder and in the trees nearby.
I called Marvin Schwilling, one of Emporia’s local birding experts at the time, and asked him about the white-wing. He came over for a look-see and told me this was the first one he had ever seen in Kansas. He only knew of one other confirmed sighting in our state.
My sighting was in April 1999, and things have really changed concerning species of doves now found in Kansas.
The white-winged dove resembles the regular mourning dove and has a gray-brown body with the top of its tail appearing to be rufous-colored. It is a bit larger than the mourning dove and displays large distinctive white wing and tail patches while in flight.
White-wings often travel in large flocks and provide excellent pass shooting and table fare. Some hunting resorts in Mexico are known exclusively for their white-wing dove shoots.
We now have two new species on the block. The Eurasian Collared and the Ringed Turtle dove are now recognized as migratory game birds in Kansas.
Eurasian Collared Doves can be seen on and around the livestock pens on the north side of the Lyon County Fairgrounds. Their song is a three-note Koo-KOO-Kook and very repetitive, almost like a broken record. It is unlike the plaintive Òcoo-OOH, Ooo-Ooo-OooÓ of the more common mourning dove.
I have seen the Eurasian at the Fairgrounds almost every evening if you want to add it to your life list of birds. It is feared these birds might become an agriculture nuisance. I have yet to see a Ringed Turtle dove.
In spring 1999, I saw another rarity that was very uncommon in MY yard and still is. This bird was scratching and poking around in one of the flower gardens. Miracles do happen on Easter, praise the Lord.
It was a rosy-rumped Wifeus Golfafanaticus, and she was quick to inform me her home range from now until mid- to late-October would be on the golf course. She and a sistern of duffers can be seen on the links flogging at a little white Roly Poly critter with an assortment of sticks until they beat the poor little fella into submission and it runs in a hole to hide. That is, if it is lucky enough to find it.
The women spend a lot of time in tall grass, known as the rough, flushing him out and become quite irritated, often raising their hackles when the battered little booger gains relief by submerging itself in the lakes and streams on the course.
I’ve learned to survive by giving Wifeus plenty of room when this happens and making sure not to offer any advice that might ruffle her feathers even more. Some men have told me they would rather face the charge of a Cape Cod water buffalo than to interact with such a critter!
I fear this species is facing an identity crisis because cooking doesn’t seem to be one of their most distinguished traits anymore. I know Wifeus Golfafanaticus’ range around my place, meaning the stove, is used only sparingly during golfing season! I wouldn’t have it any other way. Now you know the rest of the story!
Spring is one of the best times of the year for birdwatchers to get out and about to observe rare and unusual birds. Many other species will be migrating through Kansas as they return to their traditional summer nesting grounds further north.
Local fishing report
Sean Stuck at the Tackle Box on South Commercial reports that the fishing was great last week, with good reports coming in concerning white bass at the Rapids at Hartford and also Eagle Creek. Not many of the large females have been picked up yet.
His daughter also caught a 6 1/2 pound wiper. Now that fish would really bend your pole!
Channel cat fishing is picking up, with shad sides being the best producer.
3 spring turkey
seasons to open in ’07
In 2007, Kansas turkey hunters will enjoy the longest spring turkey season ever. With the addition of an archery-only season, April 1-10, Kansas hunters will be able to hunt for two full months.
As the Kansas spring turkey hunting seasons approach, hunters across the state are honing calling skills, patterning shotguns and breaking out camo gear and hen decoys.
Several events designed for youth, disabled, women and novice hunters are scheduled before and during the regular season. Contact the nearest office of the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks for more information.
Spring turkey hunting is a safe and exciting way to get youngsters involved in hunting. The Kansas youth spring turkey season runs April 6-8, the regular season opens April 11 and runs through May 31, and for the first time, archery hunters have their own spring season, running April 1-10.
The accompanying adult may not hunt during the April 6-8 youth season. No hunting license is required for resident hunters 15 and younger, but a valid Kansas turkey permit is required.
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