FLIGHT TRAILS SOUTH 



ment was steadily southward. Many of the bands flew close enough so we 

 could easily identify them — Mallards and Pintails and Canvasbacks flying 

 steadily; teal passing with swift wingbeat; Widgeon and Gadwall, Shovel- 

 lers and Redheads ; in fact, just about all the ducks which frequent the Mis- 

 sissippi Flyway. And as the sun dropped toward the horizon, painting the 

 cloud banks with long streaks of crimson which were reflected in lighter 

 tones of pink toward the east, we heard the disconsolate crying of Canada 

 Geese, veering in from westward where they had cut across from the Mis- 

 souri to avoid flying over the city. High above the ducks and still flying in 

 bright sunlight, their breasts glistened as the great birds held swiftly and 

 steadily toward marshlands to the south." 



Bellrose (1951:11) says that "most flight routes reach Illinois borders 

 via the rivers of Iowa — Wapsipinicon, Cedar, Des Moines— which afford 

 convenient pathways from the northwestern part of the state to the south- 

 east." Indeed, he has observed river movements from an aircraft, and on 

 November 1, 1951, traced a large migration of Mallards to its source, the 

 valley of the Des Moines, whence the birds came down from the northwest 

 into the Mississippi. In the same breath with which I speak of river pas- 

 sages, I must mention overland travels as well. Bellrose explains that "water- 

 fowl do not hesitate to migrate overland if there is no convenient water 

 course to follow. There are definite routes that ducks follow between the 

 Mississippi and Illinois Rivers. One route leaves the Mississippi at Savanna, 

 passes over Annawan, and branches to enter the Illinois Valley at several 

 points. On November 6, 1948, we saw a pronounced waterfowl movement 

 along this route. The flight was first noticed at 8:45 a.m. along state high- 

 way No. 78, three miles north of Annawan. 

 There was a steady procession of Cormorant, 

 Pintail and Mallard flocks, along with a few 

 flocks of Blue and Snow Geese, flying parallel 

 to the highway from this point to Morrison. 

 Early in the afternoon, flocks of Mallards 

 were observed flying down the Mississippi 

 River above Savanna, leaving the river at 

 that point." ( See Figure 13. ) 



Figure 13. Overland pass from the Mississippi 



River to the Illinois River followed 



by migrating ducks in the fall 



