I'm with you on the huns seems to be good numbers of pairs and i think they have made it through the worst of the weather. Just started some haying and found my first hatch, they were just at most a couple days old but lots of them and lots of bugs in the grass to eat.

I'm quitely optimistic about the pheasant hatch as well. There were a couple of hens around and any nests that were successful should have good conditions going forward.

The hay is looking great so far. Just so long as we can keep it dry we should be in good shape.

I try to do what i can to give the birds as best chance as I can. Over the years we've figured out were the nests are more likely to be and we actually leave some buffers in those areas, in these fields it is along a hedge row an adjoining yard and a canal. Usually if i find a hatch outside these areas I'll try and leave a patch and avoid them as much as possible, drives my dad nuts when he sees a little patch like that left behind.

This year there seems to be a good number of fawns in the alfalfa as well. They will just hold tight and some don't even try to flee, that gets to you when it happens.