The western Pennsylvania waterfowl migration report for the week of Jan. 18 from Avery Outdoors Pro-Staff member David Rearick:
Date: Jan. 20
Location: New Castle
Weather: The weather has been very cold, locking up almost all of our water, including the rivers. Lows in the minus-20 region up to teens with wind chill.
Snow cover: Lots of snow, about 14 inches on the ground.
Water conditions: Very little open water. Even the biggest of rivers have either ice flow or they are locked up.
Feeding conditions: Tough, seeing as the food is buried under a lot of snow. The manure spread on top of the snow and drifted areas that expose the corn our the only places birds are hitting currently.
Species and numbers: The cold has moved almost all the birds to small locations. Ducks are almost all blown out, but a few geese remain.
Migrations: None, done for the year
Season stage: Late goose season, ducks season closed last week.
Hunting report: Not many guys hunting with the current weather conditions and lack of feeding grounds or open water.
Gossip: Many guys have given up for the rest of January and early February. Scout them out, there are still birds to be had.