Ducks In Trees?

[Buzz]

I went to Lamar city lake yesterday morning for a little spring Bass fishing. There were a lot of various ducks on the water and in the air. I noticed from quite a distance a bunch of big black birds perched in trees. As I got closer I could make out that they were all black with very long necks and tan/orange colored beaks. One flew from a tree close enough that I could see it's webbed feet. There must have been 50 of them. At about noon they had pretty much all left. Anyone have an idea what these birds are?

BTW I caught 5 largemouth, 4 on War Eagle spinnerbaits and 1 on a Wooly Hawg Tail. Nothing real big, three were in the 2 lb. range.

Buzz

[zander]

They were probably cormorants.

[jdmidwest]

Yep, water turkeys. A large rapala or other shallow running fish like plug should lure them in. They are fish feeders. Should put up a good fight.

[Buzz]

Yep, I think that is what they were. I've heard both names but never seen one before. That many fish eaters could terrorize small waters. I would assume that they would be migratory birds for the most part.

I have had a crane divebomb a Zara Spook before, I yanked it away just in time. My favorite spook, you know.

Thanks for the info. I knew someone on this forum would know what I saw.

[soggyfeet]

Had a bunch of them fly over the other day a work. Guy there said they were cormorants or also called snakeheads cause you can only see their heads when in the water. He also said they are a good sign that the crappie are starting to bite.

[Buzz]

I talked to a few guys about it today and they told me that these birds dive into and swim underwater for a very long time.

Soggyfeet- From the vantage point that they get in the trees I'll bet they sure can see a school of crappie. I may oughta go back this weekend and try to catch some before the cormorants get them all. LOL

And now I know that just because it looks like a duck it might not always be a duck............

Buzz

[zander]

I know a lot of people that look for these birds. They eat all kinds of fish but compete with species we like to fish for. Primitive technology fish finders.

[DoveTail]

Those are probaby what you saw and probably too far north to be black bellied whistling tree ducks. The verbal description also fits these ducks that get in flocks of about 50 birds.

[wildhunter066]

We call them water turkeys. They ar absolutely thick on spring and neosho rivers in oklahoma in the spring they say they are very hard on the ifh. The northeast regional game warden in OK tried to get a season started on them. I know of a few guys who already have.

[Chief Grey Bear]

Since it is a migratory bird, I don't believe OK can just start a season. The last I heard, the Fed's know of the problem and are working in conjunction with state agencies to develop some type corrective measure to combat the bird, which I think will be considered a nuisance, and thus a hunting season, or some type of eradication program will be instituted.