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. 
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