It seems a little too much of any kind of weather can cause issues.

The Dakotas have been getting more rain than normal so far this spring. That would usually be fine for the farmers and even for the wildlife, but it might not be what everybody is looking for this year.

For pheasants and other upland birds the rain, especially in North Dakota, will push back the nesting season. That will push the entire schedule back and could lead to issues later on in the season.

You might think that a week to ten days is not that big of a deal, but every day counts for newborn birds. The later in the year nesting occurs the larger the struggle is for newborn pheasants and other birds to grow.

It turns into a constant challenge for the birds. It can lead to a poor hartch this season and it can lead to lower populations in the coming seasons.

But there is also another side to the issue. While the season will get pushed back it also means more time for dense cover to grow and build before the season gets underway.

In a roundabout way that will actually give the birds everything they should need to make it through the summer and into the fall season. They can have the protection from predators they need and can pack on the pounds until they’re ready to leave the nest.

Nature has a way of making things work and perhaps this year rain was exactly what was needed for the crops in the field and the birds in the cover.

Hopefully this leads to a few good years for upland birds. The populations have been facing a number of challenges over the last 5-10 years.

Any good news is welcomed for such a popular pastime.