The bird migration has started in southern Manitoba.

Local gunsmith, Jim Schellenberg of Mitchell says the northern birds are making their way down here, meaning more and more birds are filling our sky. He says the Canada Geese are arriving

(Jim Schellenberg)and the Snow Geese will come later. If they like the food supply they will stay, if not, it will just be a brief layover. But he says there have been more Snow Geese here in recent years, which is why he says there is a 50 bird possession limit right now for hunting.

Schellenberg says the Canada Geese population has expanded over the years in southern Manitoba. He attributes this to the habitat we have created through larger water cells and retention ponds. Schellenberg says if we have refuge, water and food, they will stay.

"Canada Geese, of course, they are almost domesticated," says Schellenberg. "They are the city geese, they live right close proximity to humanity, they get along just fine. Their numbers have been increasing."

Many of the Canada Geese you will see this fall will end up in Louisiana for winter. Though some will go just far enough south to find open water and food.

Another species of bird that has been on the rise recently in southern Manitoba is the Sandhill Crane. He notes these birds used to nearly be non-existent here, but now there are nesting pairs close to town with huntable flocks of 200 to 300. He's not sure the reason for the growing flocks but says it could just be natural expansion.

Birds can travel at 100 kilometres per hour, without much difficulty, according to Schellenberg. He says they prefer a northwest wind and when that happens you will start to see more of the V-formations in the sky as they head south.

According to Schellenberg, hunting season started September 1st for ducks, geese, Sandhill Cranes and anything that flies south. On September 8th, the season started for Sharp-tailed Grouse, Hungarian Partridge and Woodcock.

Schellenberg says this time of year he is extremely busy because every hunter's procrastination becomes his emergency.