There are many mysteries about the die-off of gizzard shad on the Chicago lakefront.
Here's another one.
While downloading photos--I wanted to document the Canada geese and mallards eating the dead shad on Jan. 7--I noticed that one goose actually had a shad encased in ice.
We thought it had been trying to catch a dying shad that kept slipping away.
But after looking at the photo, I think they may have learned to try to bust the ice off of the shad.
Here's a blow-up.
Has anybody else seen something like this? Any where?
Any thoughts, I would love to hear it. Post below or e-mail me at straycasts@sbcglobal.net.
Dale,
The Geese in winter probably have become opportunistic and may be changing their diet to accomodate a ready food supply perhaps different than the normal commute to a corn field for spilled and waste grain...heck they'll eat Wonder Bread as handouts at gull frolics! Why not gizzard shad? Though it seems a little fishy to me. I don't know if this has been documented anywhere else. Interesting!
Thanks for sharing!
dbj Author Birds of Chicago