he & ben h Wows att Se irk TEoee el eye uh RUE cts ante eles: 5! ig eae Se SS Reber sy yi ekel bebe steps Chase steht: buace of Lliinois ienry Horner, Governor Department of Registration and Education John J. Hallihan, Director THE WATERFOWL RESEARCH PROGRAM IN ILLINOIS Arthur §. Hawkins Prank C. Béllrose, Jr. Harry G. Anderson Published by Authority of the State of Illinois NATURAL HISTORY SURVEY Theodore H. Frison, Chief Biological Notes No. 12 Urbana, Illinois October, “L959 Bey au: a7 Dn ake a SLANG pee ee rah Ri | b tna, nna Sa 4% / Bes paiva - a son's ey bw es Noksseke d . OA ee C) tae TPO SEeeet, Sh Sadchane Ther HEPA ariuwail 74 riche PA. 4) oR ae fey Mate tia * “1pm yea inh y's sso oinpt eee Wee's Meritt bs YT Pte ea ee A me C8 ay ae gl oS i ; E38 fe ‘ate $0 Cae sei Oar . f MA, ee ene reas, TIES tt ie ho ee, ale sy » Perse rp A gr best Sotto GHopmeal Ve Be boawel ‘ , THE WATERFOWL RESEARCH PROGRAM IN ILLINOIS Arthur SS. Hawkins, Frank ¢. Bellrose, dr., and Harry G. Anderson* Through Illinois passes one of the heaviest flights of waterfowl found in inland North America. Capitalizing on this fact, thousands of hunters each fall spend many enjoyable hours at the 500 or more duck hunting clubs and at the public shooting areas within the state. The outlay of cash spent in pursuit of the sport of duck hunting runs into a million or more dollars each year. Within the past decade a shortage of ducks and alterations in their environment have endangered the sport of hunting in Illinois and elsewhere. Regulations governing the take of waterfowl were nec- essarily tightened to conserve the fast diminishing breeding stock. These restrictions paid dividends; ducks are again increasing in number. In accord with a nation-wide effort to prevent the reoccur- renee of the near-calamity to ducks and to the sport of duck hunting, the Illinois Natural History Survey in February, 1958, undertook a waterfowl survey, in an effort to assemble facts pertinent to the management of the waterfowl resource in Illinois. This report out- imines tae progress of the survey, which to this time has ineluded prancipalliy the valley of the Illinois River, referred to In thrs re- port as the Illinois Valley. 1938 ACTIVITIES AND FINDINGS The 1958 program included experimental plantings of aquatic vegetation, wood duck nesting studies, cover mapping and a survey of the duck hunting season. Experimental Plantings A dozen kinds of aquatic plants, rare or absent from the iilinois Valley but highly rated as duck foods elsewhere, were tried in experimental plots. ~The result was similar to that obtained by many hunting clubs where these plants have been tried in the past-- an unfavorable water level killed the plants. Wood Duck Studies Preliminary information was gathered on the nesting of the wood duck, the only duck which nests abundantly in Illinois. Further nesting studies were pursued in 1939; a progress report covering both Mears is in preparation. eArthur S. Hawkins, Game Technician, Frank C. Bellrose, Jr., Assist- ent Game Téconician, Illinois Natural History Survey; Harry G. Anderson, Junior Biologist, Illinois Natural History Survey, State Department of Conservation and U. S. Biological Survey, cooperating. eles ~ my * 8 SOR: ‘eroieany #t vasioow ‘th psnquet ted oy tne ti ‘iva +8 as apabat: oe yea bie to edrig hl ¢eslvsen “ere ano eaeRed - tone tet guia Saget gidt no yatstladiqad trend deeb baelotcat baat aos ens 38 exe eloaysi, ts vane iaege Lia Moae etotaid 1 pidttinw esetse grittcoci: oftdia ade ia Bre eduly yatined tories qub To Jxoge efi to tieetg ait doode tems: To) tele ent sate wteey dots etal fol etd a me more ftnt 2 tnt an te ptieisiia 5 mOiIT af 9h o ogettote & sheoeh dead ong iad tw . tore’ ot Deragishns avad tmemtodttvne igen ecew two't: + aie o eed get aclereve sg: anolselugeh .evterd By etloddn gathoetd gaticialrth tapt way evreeioe O49 banetda hd “fh Bani eet: ae nce miagh ¢sbrebivib bhig enok to lag vet esin * ~ { ¥ + i ra _ ty’ ee . . Bueoaes st thevota’ oy StoTia 3D ‘yanotiad @ otiw, Beddoes atin medi dovh to 3 } pce aha od Pe shalsonsaen B MOOT te OAL ‘ ae x remy teat: art (OY hig wiodat bal Fatyt alt” L phe OF Ynenlorg 24983 ptanoies o¢ é4o%te naa at Wied Sete eireqen, oti" anor ty ti potworet Dwolt rsd aw pres ta Bebe fsnt asain? slit? of “olivy . vaya oid ‘lo sherougy: mee Stns eins Secrwtet SievtA etontrel en? to vellay wodiw s | syotiad efomtlit alg, ie y ul reps Eeria> aw COUT LT Sate . ESETEVIRGA BoGe efisauvps to erent. mete {acee ciyatcxa Bbabot Sit Pas a Beet Si No verare @ baa ugtoqat Teves (sobhude gaiveen xoab: Boow ynol Kd HAGE anata to : i, . ngee dele fascia “ , : : rm ¢ 5 : 0 oad Makt Gries. CO VTA ~RIHRAG ORR ED e EG ghata meson A Ls Selrd. enow , @iodwests: shoo'l asnr 28. Sagem vidal: dud yoi lay & Vo hontaito tens of qebinie ear Jipuot of) a BI ORG lejaamlisg «atehe At et eye eee 1a vat atvela wagds gow ecole aitie Biriey i Dales pena “adBw oidatay | sazbeite wou at 2 , ee. ‘to noldaeowr sty tte, aw Bet tania bel vrrotnatl on ; mest «etodllil ot visnabande steonidtoldw doth ylas Git) po ee: Midd anlitcvon tao7at éueTgotg 2 2 GR07% mt Poveda eraw setbuve , as i ‘ wo ltersdovd ab 2 ti puna = nshotmnigs® Sid no Liv Ae Hunters' mistakes in 1958 accounted for the illegal killing of hundreds of wood ducks. The wood duck is "beautiful but dumb" and falls an easy victim to the aim of novices who are unable to identify one species from another. All increases in wood ducks resulting from improvement in the nesting habitat in 1938 are believed to have been canceled by careless hunters. Mechanically harvested grain fields were found to be an im- portant source of food. Up to 8,000 wood ducks have been observed in @ single evening feeding in the grainflelds in. one drainage district near Havana. Duck Food Survey in, jhe Llanos Valley The vegetation in all the important bottom-land lakes was mapped to scale, to determine the relative abundance of various food and non-food plants. These maps will serve as a basis for comparison with conditions in future years. A comparison between the 19358 and mos fandinges Ws piven later in this-report. Survey of the 1958 Hunting Season A preliminary report of the survey of the 1958 duck hunting Season in the Illinois Valley was presented before the Fourth North American Wildlife Conference,* held in Detroit in February, 1939. Much additional information is now available, largely through the co- operation of the State Department of Conservation in giving free ac- cess to reports from duck clubs. A revision of parts of the prelim-— inary report, which was based on less information than is now avail- able, is presented in the following summary. 1. Gistimaced tetal kill, including cripples lost, 85,000. pa thie acl 1. by Species of 250 elubs: ts eciven nm tabie i. Tabiic de--Duck kill of 250 .«lubs, Illinois Valley, Z8ss. inp Ducks — Number Diving Ducks Number Mallard 32,047 Lesser scaup (bluebill) 2,537 Pintail (En ey Ae Ring-necked (blackjack) 414 Green-winged teal 5,652 Canvasback 240 Gadwall 5,082 Redhead 130 Baldpate 2,068 Bufflehead 129 Blue-winged teal 2,025 Ruddy 70 Shoveler 1,457 Golden-eye i. Black duck 881 Miscellaneous fe) Total 55,262 Total 35,550 *This report was published in the July-August issue of American Wildlife. Reprints can be obtained by writing to the I11li- nois Natural History Survey, Urbana, Illinois. Pes reget tt’ ee ath Sahat s ase. at 2 Sourd. duct Lotigvrsed” sf. tosh hoow ext Hineht ov. gidanw esa onw eeolvor ‘to’ mba oat | 3 grbiluaor, evoub beow. at cbt at Sadie ob aR: ts ‘boteties sds ‘G8Rr ret thi m2 na: od of bevel etew ébLolt aber ee esrene ‘y cretubanentlt Wh bowreeds nesd evad eto boow 000.8 oF ay ‘OOO Io: eoroe ¢ otaseln onanlenh. oft sblohtatery ae SAE SoS antanie a £or odd @aw. woxiel bral-mosdod. tresroqmt att fka nf holy cone ‘oft ee WHoct sirottay lo eonabmurde ovidtelor st eatmteted of (olsce of ea Gesltadiney tot efasd ec sa svioe fifw aqam esacdT: eatiale boot-m Boe SSCL edt noowted roatreqmos A wedasy) oxstul mh saokshh: ; etyoteay elds at aoe marion: e “ue ay anus Bee i rth moease pons Hoch BEOL sikh to yovase aie 49 ttoqa7 _iontektaes 4: Re. fideo dduucd sit osoted heinederg saw yolla¥ etontftl odd se S 6 4RSOL ytecede® gt thowsed AL bled + ‘sonerstA09 eTEipl by e05 ons cavocwis. y[outel yefdaliava wom et achiamme inl Lanots hap Gi a7t?t gnivis at nolvevteemed to Joomiisqed otat8 ons to’ Bo amifcrid ans To eina2q to mofaiver A caddfa work mor? edroget Ratha wor af nad nobtanso'tn2 weet no bozad saw doldw dine : Eran S gelwol fot ait mad poinvaoag | ; 000,68 sJe0f aotaqtes aqibutont Leb Leiot bo Jamis Og “f a (2 ofdat at novin el edule 088 to soloogs yd Lt2x oft +8 peat amend erorkity i ge 8 to" pees ein a atdat ' Gina :: as (Lois nent ey pine jToesel “ce Pib (Hoptvoald) bovloda-agnii orev hs, plata tap oe Bat, oe AROS ne ant watoaae O8L Basho $80,¢ f ae f Ha ori aoe Ba8, 8 3 oS pg) OY YOR A ..630,8 en ae y ovaenoebiod Veagds: MA aa -~ plrooral Lost A \ 022,.¢ faso? 95 Sok, Gc Laser ee to boast gouaca-_eiel: od? nt hedte tilde Spy eee eRiTe ite od pacha Vd Poolksiia of: pment ' i hasaiviene ee | aca . Son 1 0.01; = Se | Ba Green-winged Teal SQ O De E SS Sa — / H SNe NS LK ‘ | | / MAA QQ vr 0.35 4 / / 1938 liunting Season j | / nate o / Blue- SS oi I ie eiaeea . ; Teal ‘ O.1 / | es | —_— ze Set 2. oe of Water ety | | : : : per iS is eae a 0.2 | uy a O Dicey RADIO eee ot G (e) se 3 2 | 5 DUCK CENSUS 2 r ILLINOIS RIVER (o) 1938 0 | u sO ee | oO q > } pisage Se oid ro hi Dia: & | 2 % s “ Wdoo aii? dls wid 200 t8 tase rohit TL ert ae i " 7 f "hee « ore vovex R°YT exet a i ait Fi Hin SID ’ pereer . onl WO! Ts a S, ee * im poawod ov! RenSECI tas } ‘T8q age'tove ait QHA ni ettacdeenn ; min 224 tft Ifet ond nalavb etal eat sf vehiey ort t iStiw ewounb Of 4 Yo, Hootie : Javoumine Yd Deg Vat Ga ric. t ~ r . \ e4 Poorer i dovag > F "i ds ae) ~~ . , - is oe et ms Dus 3" whe magiteg cwiciuey Je serq , et ,Re os pm Cee C4 ro as 08 rf a6 r ee i, %, rt) { ret Ts ' “a oe empl eee 1! . ee iJ f l i If Sacks f \ S's aq RK Mol f io ¥ wer eOtmcgtsSt pm} et i Fi 7 § Rie ey F : { agit Re Nee: ) \ ah Ps L yy y aK | . ad - A Che y , “4 A oo —_ _- = ” = 7” A { ite 5: ST te em te mee te Sop ¥, ii ev babar PEt 6. sd Ble ele! Ore 8. sex ratios: A normal sex ratio is one in which the number of males and females is approximately equal. Species which are monogamous must have a normal sex ratio if they are to produce offspring with greatest efficiency. Wild ducks are believed to be monogamous. The sex ratio in most species of ducks is known to be more or less unbalanced in favor of the male. While the effects of an abnormal sex ratio are unknown, it is logical to assume that such @ condition is unhealthful to the species. To manage waterfowl successfully, we must learn (1) the sex ratio in the various waterfowl species and (2), if this ratio is abnormal, how the condition can be correctcd. Our 19S8" findings in one species, the malltard, are given jm table 5. HAbpLe S.—-—Sex ratio, in mallerds, Illinois Valley, 1958. Number Inspected PermiCent Period Drakes Hens Drakes October 15-31 lah B2 48 November 1-15 68 69 50 November 16-28 _ LOS « der 62 Total 541 269 56 Let ues suppose that 1b is desirable Go lcorreet i nemsiex ratio in mallards. It will be noted in table 5 that there was an excess of hens over drakes early in the season and that the opposite was true late in the season. Perhaps a later hunting season would tena to discriminate against males, thereby helping to balance the Sen) ratio. go. Weights; The belief has sometimes been expressed that, Since the cessation of legal baiting, ducks passing through Illinois are in danger of starvation. We examined over 2,000 ducks in 1938 and found that only ducks with shot wounds showed signs of starva- tion. Most of the lightweight ducks were found to be late-hatched fuvenites. Their lack of weight could not be attributed to scarcity of food; they were merely light-framed individuals. A summary of mallard weights taken in 1938 is given in table 6. beni dots wotl oso stichter naa faotten A \peotoen G2): Kelsw BotpoY?e ..fayoe- viotonl xa a2 sol emrd for es Lene Co) mouboig Of Gra vadit TL gisax - mxen 8 ova ten etomeRG qd 0. bowelled Site evenh Bilt Lonats Ls “SEsIe29'%Q. thd bur 8di.o2 wom ef stovh Jo eciyoge pon ith obde to er ih , ® waeoite ocd sith .ofen afd tc seve? ot Beoneiag oe tests eRrae es: Sr Leorgol Bh AE, ORO Be F oh et ri d s2otpoae ott of. Iie PLaeriaw gah 26: hg Cf) wetter satin ow. One anemion ee Olshd TP ..(3) “br nav ond ot sHatsetieg sd: acaaaaceme 8: THE aso art erent ie remceaye pepe: sarin pcb miter cetoaas aoe iain nein ee oe ae . 12-22 -ososad eobvelt em rh) ry O' afd. tars t REL it mt yite ssvo esha Td + * wo i " f aes ; ok ~- ‘ A BPG? Is) Ain ese eo Fae Bs Cy aa a aged Ferd d Bepaeek ans ies of grigiod yoiorond eater seit Wa 68 a Ode dato a aR Besta rhad samt. 2 eat IotiLad wit. pagdator 1 ae - ‘ eae 7 i A x a! a a {gu . Sahg : nit iad’ Lesa! ao coli ae ey MZ 2350p 000,52 cove horimoxs of ant besyrete to te. e < s fee» rs vapey f om Pat od ~ f * 1h. Pape OO BMAre DOWN: ARO ¥ era cto tw es somo YEG hast ii tot oF ni BH a % ; J ‘ 0 ' fleet 4 rd f raf ict eee no pref ' ae cf ¥ ost erry) c « e § ’ ek ow v' t a Om or » ‘ fHivinnst 4 Yeh letom @tow vot .< S60 r ns ql * + F ma i > ey") - f ? f ; Lu.) SO iu tie Ew berak : Ge Table 6.--Weights of mallards taken in the Tillinois Valley, 1938. Number Weighed Average Weights* Period Drakes Hens Drakes!” ‘Hens | October 15-31 er 82 43.8 56.8 November 1-15 68 69 AN. 9 Oho November 16-28 196 | meee peel Seared Total O41 269 42.8 O72 “Weights in ounces The fact that the weights of females increased as the sea- Son advanced whereas those of the males behaved erratically seems to be further evidence that the male migration is more or less independ- Eat Of that of the female. LO. Age groups: The goal of game management Is the ethical mervesting of the surplus. A surplus in that part of a population in excess of a breeding stock large enough to maintain the species at pome desired population level. In waterfowl at the present time, mors is no surplus, because the desired population level Is.not in meeot. Wwe are, therefore, harvesting a portion of the capital stock. Bithough this is not good management, under the circumstances, it is Boe best thing to do. It means, however, that unusual vigilance must me Girected toward the status of the capital stock, to guard against Bnarp deflation. Since increases or decreases in the duck population are Meamarily the- result of successes or failures in breeding, it seems Jogical that actual measures--not guesswork--are necessary in deter- Mining the number of young ducks raised. Two methods of measuring the number of young birds in relation to the number of old birds meme bo hold the best possibilities: (1) inspection of the kill of Hunters (2) banding. both mcthods are limited in application because Mm 8 dearth of definite and usable criteria in some species for sep- Meeting birds of the year from thoir parents. Work is now in progress GO remove this obstacle. 1939 ACTIVITIES AND FINDINGS In addition to wood duck nesting studies (to be reported in another paper) the 1939 waterfowl program of the Illinois Natural History Survey has given major consideration, up to September 20, to meeuck food survey of the Illinois Valley. This is a continuation of Studics started in 1938. ore y 5 Lay - arbhetinituindiiende . 7 . . Dae kc wy o” ~ - f — . hl > ; . man np ahem ddl lsutiga , ae ted & rm \ : oe r 5) 0) Ay ge . ry ‘i 4 2 | ae | , > f 4 Att abs + ail 4 : A eae | 5 r ts ta a. uw . 4 rh DN Oe 7 ‘ ; . , i =f 5 ore! ‘. . eft Ty : a 2 ; c ; + ' rr + ° ; 2 : # #8 | to L . ff aT : . ‘ F 7 iy ‘ I f i ueprt - , mA ia? | . i > 5 ns Ns r ° Pak : i ) * if 2 7 _ . . 7. ok 8 7 me ' T ‘ ad oe ty pote [412 4 : Seon; t ‘ f Sa hha eh OF 5) ES _ ‘ . i ” ‘ ¢ ‘2 : ' ‘ ft. req : . ‘ i pi f wk ‘ < t ; : t ; a . + "9 4 x j + 4 oy s = é a 4 < 4 ¢ tee - « * G ., , . ae | r 44 3 Ie LA oil . , * s ‘ , ui ul aff f , rar ‘ bd ; ot , . HT , TY ; a . » g , r F; " * : A ee be meh Soe Be : I - } & : \ 2 . A . * ' # + me = 7 ae ~~ “ F od 0 | j a « * it . ij < > <4 ' A ‘ g ¢ é a yy ¢ P. 4 yet "Ose ft F; ‘ - : 4 5 sales > . ny ‘ i Beer mie : r i > ory ‘ a7 2 - o _ + 5 2 % é . ‘ h H iQ = ei. eee « ) ‘ i 3 i ; poy Ly | ¥ 4 fat . Dee ip | at ia, Ni arm ¥ he a ‘. ‘se , + a6, * Cotes ar meet rs c 3 . . . ae : : : a f ae: T mere Z bays . satin oa ss i l " . For f : i \ . : Be & : 4 x § ¢ . & ‘ : . e f ° mn +o ~ . ‘ ‘ = oe ’ - * ee ig * ’ 3 AE OM, t : 5 aa i. Pate ib Lay Aquatic Vegetation Mapping During both 1938 and 1939 maps have been made to scale Bhowing the aquatic plants found in the bottom-land lakes of the Tilinois Valley. These maps indicate the water depth and turbidity when the survey was made. A follow-up of the mapping is the col- dection during the hunting season of stomachs from ducks shot over the lakes previously mapped. The resulting information gives a pic- ture of what plants are chosen as food by ducks, and what the rela- tive abundance and distribution of these food plants is throughout the valley. Also learned is the area occupied by plants which do not produce duck foods. An accumulation of this information, aug- mented by special studies, should eventually yield a plan for re- ducing the area of non-food plants by increasing the area of food plants. A brief comparison between the conditions found in 1958 and 1939 follows. In 1938 high water was prevalent throughout the valley mntil the latter part of July. A drouth then resulted in an abnor- mally low water stage throughout the remainder of the growing sea- mon for plants. The high water until midsummer precluded the growth of such important duck food plants as nut grass (Cyperus), duck millet (Echinochloa), saw grass (Leersia), a number of Smart- weeds (Polygonum) and pigweed (Acnida) from growing on the mud flats. Likewise, because of the fluctuating water levels and high turbidity, few important aquatic plants upon which ducks feed were able to thrive in the parts of the lakes which did not go dry. The two most abundant plants in the bottom-land lakes of Illinois, American lotus (Nelumbo lutea) and the river bulrush (Scirpus flu- viatilis) are rclatively unimportant as duck food producers. ~ _ Thus, during the hunting season of 1938, there was a Pscarcity of natural duck foods in most of the lakes, and the water Jevel was so low as to make many lakes veritable mud flats. Such Cnvironmental conditions led the ducks to concentrate in areas possessing a bountiful supply of natural food, and to rest in the @cnter of large lakes during the day, procuring their food from Cornficlds during the evening and morning hours. A new factor entered the picture in 1959. Two wicket type dams--one at Whitechousc, near Pekin, the other at La Grange, below Ecardstown--were placed in operation to compensate for the low water stage brought about by reducing the diversion from Lake Michigan. The Whitchouse dam raiscd the water in the Illinois River and adjoining lakcs from Pekin to Hennepin; the La Grange dam raised the water level as far as Browning and the Sangamon River. Between Pekin and browning the lowest stage in the recent history Bt the Illinois River prevailed during August and September of 1959. BPormcr large lakes, such as Clear, Quiver and Crane, became. little more than puddilcs. ORR OM BB leny ) Times to) eeset | oe waded ey aie EAL Hero's ry, Mi ate Y, ae nth ants nei smettod. eds a? bavo®: @tnaly. pitmipals elo icw?) 14 SIGSh, Taw ig atasinn? sean bismaiat cots ion od et ortogan of) to au-watfot Ao bbe /@aye Jodie tlorh “qt ‘Bd ‘a to fosaes “oat sty art TREK jeolq. Hn Bay E's ‘ot a PT? Tf ot hur ry at T » hers yin ChVete =alot eis taciw bh Bon YS: BOOT. mr epetavotd), 2 AIreag f 2 ag ; b sreaoste one: siaala'S ¢ iw estas Lae Tah Bi ah Bai *aNe .solamro tml £ths to ao lo niimerene, mah Apr ea ‘Mots tity Seep aoe a — Lae ae Bin sh es wee fs prt « ; mia] a4) i Bit. h > ie ORES fe Yu he SEE lei DARE ERS af a bi) a pig Be Aas iat Hoo! tc B22 sig sitt ea oy ey"? Need by Fe iets aan ay Boel nl hawt eX#ohstbid: 4 sooo mos braeubo te berth , r 4 Phe m0 LO dsm tus aimelin boot sprit, ela 4 hi 5 ti dalam 4 ote a _laiedtoul). enagy wae | Ceo tteon seers a Tat Grim eet hy {« - h amee rine sah oe YT #5, 'F F - ‘4 ¢ \ t ay es j 5 TN ayo Hog’ at yey F a ‘ a Ce Be ot <«aet Po one wy fe 173 4 m ey Pan, ) ray J eh it , : Ah ~ ' Ei ? ‘ f Suit “Viv Cn 26m DLO dality ewia i Mae Mi % r ; 2) AMOGTOS ) AL atieia Jvipbage 5 . ie } . ¥ r , : e THOS LEE et eee ales | ‘ ig P r c A 1 eR Roh BE DR CURE EE Oe AG a : a f j ws ~~? *. I , af iy al 3 rh : ’ , . ho fete it VR DR ENE RT ye Sees , ' ee Pitan cers t+ 3 f ' iat act a. Lobe ali or ogi AR? + Pia Fi at Paes fl ape hear et piel ea Ht} vie rt ; : Boer ater (| wtoasLeyy wa is ‘ t US MMe, ¢ Daas Hote! . BEM Oneal In the following paragraphs is given a summary of the water and duck food conditions found at some of the lakes studied during 1938 and 1939. Starved Rock Pool, Ottawa.--This lake, formed by a dam built several years ago at Starved Rock, has a fairly constant water level throughout the year. Consequently, the vegetation is more luxuriant and better stabilized than in other Illinois bottom-land lakes in which water levels fluctuate greatly. Beds of sago (Potamogeton pectinatus) and long-leaved pondweed (Potamogeton americanus) occur up to depths of 4 feet. There are two areas covered With a a scattering growth of wild celery (Vallisneria), one of the few places in the Tllinois Valley where it occurs. Coontail (Ceratophyllum), duck potato (Sagittaria) and duckweeds are other Abundant species. Depue and Spring Lake, Depue.--A paucity of duck food plants prevailed in both I93C and 1939. No change in status of duck food plants and water levels occurred in 1939, because these lakes are too ar north of the new Whitehouse Dam to benefit from its effects. Large beds of river bulrush occurred about both lakes. Small patches of marsh smartweed (Polygonum Muhlenbergii) were present but these produced little seed in 1939. te t Goose Pond, Putnam.--This lake contained in 1959 very exten- sive beds of the unimportant duck food plant, river bulrush. Next in abundance was the Amcrican lotus, which is reported to have increased in area during 1939. Large beds ‘of duck potato (Sagittaria latifolia) maintained their size ee encroachment by river bulrush. Scat- tered plants of sago pondwesd were found in the open water of the lake and in a number of wooded potholes. Stands of giant bur reed (Spar- genium evrycarpum) also occurred. = Sawmill Lake, Henry.--The duck food plants, scarce in 1938, showed some improvement in 1939 with the appearance of sago pondweed. A higher water level, duc to the new Whitehouse Dam, seems to be the cause. Extensive beds of river bulrush and American lotus occurred in both 1938 and 1939. A slight decrease in lotus was noted in 1939. Goose Lake, Sparland.--This state public shooting ground had a higher water level, due to the Whitehouse Dam, and better duck food conditions in 1939 than in 1938. Scattered beds of marsh smartweed, an important duck food plant, occurred about the lake in 1959. Pa rts of the river ridge were covered with luxuriant growths of nodding smartweed (Polygonum lapathifolium), duck millet, saw grass and pigweed. Douglass Lake Drainage District, Chillicothe.--About two- thirds of this area was covered in 1938 and 1939 by river bulrush. Marsh smartweed, quite abundant in 1938, was reduced in area in 1939. Numerous patches of white water lily (Castal astalia) and extensive beds of 4 ae ae aa pat niin} Let ai “gh i “ae ' He £9 batt: boot pede heey gine ema te ear tr o the : og elove ® rr Te AIOE | cde £ £tay WKS sean Cane a GS LIT Le. MMR +)? — sees (a9 ae oe at ie iv f Colt . Suan atta t: eoontail (Ceratophyllum) occurred both years in Rice Pond and other ponds in the river bulrush marsh. No wild rice (Zizania) was found in 1958; yet in 1959 fair stands appeared around HKice Pond and two other ponds. Sago pondweed was much more common in 1939 than in 1938. Big Lake and Goose Pond, Banner.--Eig Lake contained ex- tensive American lotus and river bulrush beds. In 1938 marsh smart- weed was abundant about the lake, but in 1939 most of the smartweed was replaced by river bulrush. ‘Two small patches of wild rice ap- peared in 19359. In 1938, Goose Pond had the largest bed of duck potato in the Illinois Valley. Eecause of high water during the growing season of 1958 and 1939, resulting in submergence of the plants, this species was largely replaced in 1939 by American lotus and coontail. Patches of white water lily were materially reduced in size in 1959. Clear Lake, Mason County.--Clear Lake was practically barren of duck food plants during 1938. In the open water, scattered plants of sago and long-leavedcd pondweed occurred, while along the shore a few beds of spike rush (Eleocharis), river bulrush and duck potato were found. During the Summer of 1939 the water of this lake receded to such an cxtent that most of the lake was a mud flat. These drouth conditions were due to the fact that the pool of the La Grange Dem did not extend far cnough vostream, and the flow through the valley was tess than in previous years. On this extcnsive mud flat such véiuable duck food plants as duck millet, nut grass and pigweed a arcad in August and September. Only if the water level rises sufficiently to flood this area will the excelient food become available to waterf Anderson Lake, Astoria.--In this lake, there was very little change in the aquatic plants between 1938 and 1939. Marsh smartweed was the most abundant specics, American lotus second and coontail third. Ingraham and Crane Lakes, Snicarte.--American lotus on- croached upon the oven waver areca of both lakes in 1939. In Ingraham Lake, lotus covered about 85 per cent of the are@. Sago pondweed and long-leaved pondweed, scarce in Crane Lake in 1938, were almost wanting in 1959. Cuba Island, Chandlerville.--This area, because of small levee districts holding water, had in 1938 and 1939 an excellent growth of good duck food plants. In both years marsh smartweed was the most abundant of these food species. In 1959 it was somewhat less abundant than in 1938. Saw grass was second in abundance and eovered an equal area in both years. Ameri tus increased Silachtiy in 1959 over 1958. ide P) Myre 2) te ie) SWiew © oe — -e fee 7 my ; ' fy Ti) 4 a i \ t i AA ; i) vA ie & oy Lia ido bone, barb" gold il sid sited Retaueae. § 169) Ot ei (ethasts ) asta. bidwoow | ahottam dential wove ang re e DeOt ePLn prc bona Moa edA, BhNT 06) £ gh toy "o avis BSAh ak sommon onan Hiner ciw Banprane cae s \ exe benlasao> one hiss, coma beet seood. Dis aint 3 ; Midegem GECL.al “nhac Harts ira yoves bie Svtaol’ mags ts E paaxe tens edd 36. Jnom OOL mt aed pemliel ods dota! tanboads 7 Aas pots mney Yo marcay h¢y “LA Onis owl veheors turd roving er 3 oe Svat eet: sub to boo. teaqrat ents bat beet anon) eabRt at's Laon guta- =kerh fod am aero omuBood ie TOLL ay . a4 : opis Ceaiaty one t0 AOD TIT ‘ant i saocige ig te vaeet. et Ba Wthadaces fuk. wwtot -taphroMd yd SARL et byonlaur | in Coes az .aste at feourbut vs falspt a sioe qiil nore ef ybfaotsoarc eaw ofel saathe-, aii ro.) agente ‘otad ep4t: Meera "hagaidene bie Vy, 2 Rr Teee GHORY lg Ag mt igt A ca wd sieht bool sous Atdow Lav dpe tals tem avimdgdes nietd dee Peipmeemetys. Ske targus ot Sotaogie hodwatq Bra aeaty. Jt - tis ae Liew nite atdy Soot) od giteotohvibe eoelt Level rotow oat a: i‘ Lena’) tata of otdaitnvs atioood boo't Bf “arses yror BOW arts ond cial tas ninweginotah oval noe tobn waeana deiat .Obh! ord BEOl Apawi oc ast OfUBM DA OF ‘copainatinahl peta boovne ardol asolsoms Ten haada inahandA te a af ayinl bxaithean. aereaine ak yoink « Ate #0 PSUS TS. Sane eptin Z i ‘ 7 ae ot alas er eens mae Oa eee fal edilat dgoc 26 Paes MeGy | 9 < mnwlaietyes my .t8t toe sag, AMR Gem GnvS ate me Boewbieg 0400 . hote waite Id taba Nog. BH yoda bereves ore Deals arow .S80l nl ofl anexrd ne oerené , bogwhaog: hovaoleg oe ® ; ‘ “CORT at [tase to oases sd mung shetan po LLt weer boreig: bdneat aauis f Adaolieoxe re C201. lias. 95er oT” Tart” tae fa enraiT Bae Braakb Vo mew. Hoavdione ceway Brbiy Ado WT! 8 haste. & boot xouk, booa) Te Di aetwomce gar tl ONAh il seotssae Paol geods ap tanboauds ta | Han oon sherds ‘rid Dreoos ey eobiy wre oth mad: suxeho: hoes werent algol abohvors «tay pad B \ iis Love cae a Ee ) Treadway Lake, Beardstown.--Little change in the area occu- mied by various plants occurred between 1938 and 1939. Several large eds of duck potato, which bordered some islands of the lake, were maeroached upon slightly by American lotus in 1939. More scattered Macches of giant bur reed were found in 1939 than in 1938. Eecause ma the La Grange Dam, the water level was about 8 inches higher in mepcember, 1959, than the year beforc. | ; . Muscooten Eay, Ecardstown.--Small scattered beds of marsh mmartweed covered about the same area in both 1938 and 1939. Ex- mensive tracts were covered with American lotus; there was a slight mecduction of this Bile fells in 1939. Duck potato increased in abun- mance in 1939, as did giant bur reed. Sago and long-lcaved pondweed, mairly comnon in 1938, were virtually absent in 1939. The water Bevel of Muscootcn Bay has been raised about 12 inches by the La Grange Dam. ; : a ef the Illinois River.--The banks of the Illinois Maver have much better frow aaa of smartwecds, pigwecds, nut grass, meal srass redetaakie) & na duck miitet in 1939 (Blaine alta IES)S1S}- General Summary of Food Conditions and Water Level.--Con- Beasting the watorrowl conditions in the Illinois Valley for 1958 and #959, we find a slight improvement in natural duck foods in 1959 and, because of the two wicket navigation dams, a higher water level in ome lakes 2nd a lower level in others. Stomach Analyses Stomachs of almost 2,000 ducks were collected during the 1938 hunting season from coop orating duck clubs. Most of these clubs more located on the Illinois River between Pekin and Browning. Btomachs were obtained also from several clubs along the east side if the Mississippi River between Hamilton, Illinois, and Crystal Lake, @cross the river from Burlington, Iowa. The analyses of 557 stomachs mas been complcted to date; over 60 per cent of these were from Mallards and pintails; the remainder were from 15 other species, most- wy from lesser scaup and ring-necked ducks. All the stomachs so far €xamined have been from ducks killed between November 6 and 27. Be- Ibween these dates all the native food plants have mature seeds, and moe cultivated grains have been harvested. Mellards.--Although 39 plant species and 15 animal species Were identified from the food contents of 285 stomachs, seed from Bex plants made up nearly 70 per cent of the total volume of food. @hese plants are listed in table 7, with their comparative ratings. ear Hoes ory rch vi Byial Letevet .020L ee BIOW Onn its, 44 yi Rone td agg »ro%k he OSU e Para pares et soda in. Bon aie . studs at a doowh: tog fin a Trashy ee ee Bi ty? Bie 5 oe cy ¥ 4¢8cs a sh SEDs dere . ban’ Boer. ; Bec. gser i gh, fave! Shon. a . gittnwe get. ‘®t ari ni I= sowodabaod. Gf neo opimoo: "est: ghyrlad ome boasted Holay | A evital ‘ineotapind ee ~hidnt Fe BOL mh Sie, Ora Bats nods enw: Lavek ab est OAT), fas santa iia ¥e tt te) a: A Feb es oe Ned bone Jone, bona! a spo warty SeOgD fo'roy caolroms ig Soraveo UG: Bes loud caene ie ayioogd bean ne ROOT are dnets bth BE: ein LE saccor? y attone Rv Pia ® Beet pe reo haut \yad: m aLon diet Tovatowery os Byte Ad pests r aot hi Sitot toi hi move nenek: df sites) Sout ows Lois if OWL" 2 nee 0048 Scones Bert a a gage eh Ae t2 eee oT. eg fie. D: tip. ‘ado omaen 1003 et Hoge: rb "uh e. ito’ t 1 " fs bia pare SOW a i ; Pe pict i. np dyiysy eae! TaBAt ae Piles as" hos ph: EAs le By. aa h28, Asie rons 8 = t5= Table 7.-=Plants most often represented in 285 mallard scomachs, filinois Valley, L9de. nn i | A a Corn (Zea indenta) 452.7 40 Saw grass (Leersia oryzoides) 168.6 als) Smartweed (Polygonun Muhlenbergii) GuG 6 Nut grass (Cyperus esculentus) 42.5 4 Coontail (Ceratophyllum demersum) Bll 2 3 Pondweed (Potamogeton americanus) Liv at ——— “Volume expressed in cubic centimeters. *xBased on a total volume of 1,107.5 cubic centimeters of plant food. Pintail.--Nineteen plant and 11 animal species were identi- fied from 62 pintail stomachs. The five most important of these are dlisted in table 8 with comparative ratings. Table 8.--Plants most often represented in 62 pintail scomacis, Liiineis Valley, 1968. -_—— eee ES eee Plant Volume Per Cenbe Corn (Zea indenta) 152.8 56 Nut grass (Cyperus esculentus) OG i 8 Buckbrush (Cephalanthus) 12.9 6 Saw grass (Leersia oryzoides) 74 3 Spike rush (Eleocharis) 56 © *Volume in cubic centimeters. xxBased on a total volume of 234.5 cubic centimeters of plant food. Animal foods were relatively unimportant in mallards and pintails killed during the period November 6-27. Me ae fe eg ri thee ce Lica S68 Wf Degroroetcor ootto Jeo edtal Gees), Older ih. .BGGk yotiav ehontert . Be Sis siee ; rained wot > Ponmulov . tac lT REN nt te Oe te ee eee ee eee RI ew é or ‘VoRBa Catembak 208) a , a Poe , feet ont \ A U. BOL [aobtox ute aieraat) conrad i ae re maha 8 « Oeld (Listrodn alah mscrony tot) a i 4.9, (gutne feong sorsqyd) hey a ery 4 19 - — a4 \ Twiey apr rity t silva & gatand) theta NOTA AGEN Menten £ BL] fevoaditens ao ssapanaeel) doe . ee shxstaenitises ofduve ol boseeteRe omuloV 8 etetfeomizires oiduvo d.VOC,! to: omLloy [ni94) 2: ie boca . boot ‘s oy . baa shies piaw avioeqa Lnntie [iv baa dasla Picvbbaiigrtiy ese. ‘ete Seent Yo $result Peom avl2 aif? werloanote) Llare: i rant at ee a ey iy ; ; bie Menino 'S i x fw: B oldac eJjnafinaw. 8 gidat .Vobiay etontite ftetniq 26 nt betneeeryet matte fe: G36): rae ~ *omilal FBLA | a ee er ed hase Nadiad ee in ee re _ . ; . a a ax on ; = , ‘ ad &. Sef (oF ro birt sui} te et teal as nd y t . i bf ft Oe 7] - * ‘ed ‘ os 7 a Pe $i 2 \ ia y a ; a Os Cae SSE ae See ae ee ety a yaw , » 4 ¥ a a a 4 ¢ TA ty . Leese OL iy ny Lave 10 atsvornings piduo Gehan to omaiot. (ator a ine Gea y bows bee ehbuirifen af teadroauning ¢luvitalot cipw shoot Camis” Sed Saemayow hotaad adt sank eh So DOP ete Sala Lesser Scaup (Bluebill).--Nearly 95 per cent of the con- tents of 82 stomachs of the lesser scaup was animal food, mostly molluscs (Amnicola, Syhaerium, Pisidium). Coontail and duck potato were the chief plant species represented in the stomach contents. Ring-Necked Duck (Blackjack).--Plant food was somewhat pre- = ee en SE Oy Pes Bs SS seca 2 1 4 Borrcd DO Snimal food by this diving duex, as represented by the 42 stomachs examined. Sago and long-leaved pondweed seeds made up the bulk of the contents. Of the animal foods, molluscs and midge larvae eomposed 90 per cent of the volume. Summary of Stomach Analysis.--Over 100 plant and animal specics have been identified from the duck stomach contents so far examined. Less than a fifth of these foods, however, constitute an important part of the diet. Corn wasted during the harvest is utilized heavily by mallards and pintails which, together, make up the major part of the duck flight through Illinois. So long as agricultural practices bordering the Illinois River remain the same as they are today there is little chance for widespread starvation among ducks during the hunting season, cven if the supply of natural food fails. The belicf sometimes cxpressed, that baiting is neces- Bary to prevent duck starvation, does not apply to Illinois conditions. There is some evidence that ducks resort to cornfield feed- ing through necessity rather than preference. The stomach contents of the ducks killed where excellent natural feed conditions prevailed contained comparatively little corn. Stomach analyses, as woll as ficlad observations, indicate Ghat the thousands of dollars spent in the past by duek clubs in planting wild cclery, wild ricc, wapito and sago have accomplished MWittle in bettering the natural food conditions of the Illinois Valley. Studies proposed for the future should evolve a planting schedule suited to the exacting requirements of the Illinois River arca. 6D: ‘oat 16 “Sipe “tsa ae Vinal, (UL be ase : eld a0 Foot if eee eas nA CiLpos to nee et - ¥ odatog want Dire. Ita. reser Re en! f isis by Shits as 2 sutgeaie sedcodse9 AOAmOs 2 oe fi. iy y Fira sade iat. met: a ae she . Jadworoe. aay, ‘a Pi hd ni fh aS gid erie: eaKe + \ eID det eytel agb)m Son pain im: . Shoot Sepa ae: 7 Be was ‘wet eI Noo aah . Nai Y= pierre ous dead ae iui : taekna bua-dnels OOF tove-- atagtark dosmosa tos Bi "4281-69. einetino» feeamods, at GR) POS bert taro 3 & sxetiverss’.tevounrd , ‘BAGO R soot Pe MiP 8 WeAas, Real SSL Jeavten ad aobsssh Prades ew aod 7.dnbh wads) | drag one YMA: g THES 3 G04 otie wl tatoo ete ae Sire ll am ed yity aot ‘pe gael oc .edoniil? pyvoids SURELY slosh ott to sae aine. eae miawet sovti aiid £24 ry wltsprod sootteata fe wearevicl® Ssogceahin spt oonnido shoes eh exede gebe Jt: meer Io clogun oft it wow, .coehe- yalond ond leh deena el nie tees 4 ba owtrxe wont tomes Tol fod oft oe a eS REO GLLLD a4 =f Ae. 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