Grouse chicks

[Reilly Auld]

Has anyone spotted a brood of grouse chicks in Ohio this spring?

[antiqucycle]

at the beginning of may, while turkey hunting and mushroom hunting at the brush creek public hunting area, jefferson county, I sat down on a stump and 8 feet in front of me, a grouse flushed. after 10 minutes of sitting I realized there was a nest of 11 eggs right in front of me under a log. Two weeks later I walked by the same spot and she was still sitting on the eggs. and did not flush. so I just kept walking by. I would guess they made it. Its one of the areas that were timbered by the state for forest restoration. in a deep gulley with a path along a creek. I did get a picture of the nest the first time.The log was laying so it was about a foot off the ground where she nested.

My own guess, the weather was just right for nesting for the grouse and turkeys.

[Reilly Auld]

It has been rather wet in SE Ohio which does not bode well for chicks or turkey poults, but the Jeff County and surrounding area has been somewhat dry. Here is to hoping that we have a good hatch this year!

[Reilly Auld]

A friend was doing a timber inventory in Tuscarawas County last Friday and flushed a brood. Chicks were already tennis ball size. A dozen of them.

[Reilly Auld]

A hen and 5 chicks spotted yesterday. Young were almost full grown.

[Lance]

That's great to hear. A brood of 5 survivors at this point in the year isn't too bad. I hope we're having some similar success down on our place.