MONTHLY WILDLIFE RESEARCH LETTER 
Illinois Federal Aid Project W-66-R 
Department of Conservation and Natural History Survey, Cooperating 
Glen C. Sanderson and Helen C. Schultz, Editors 
Urbana, Illinois 
July, 1976 
Vo 1. 19, No. 7 
Manipulation of Pheasant Habitat R. E. Warner 
Last month's research letter (MWRL 19(6):1) reported estimated densities of 
pheasants on the Sibley Study Area (SSA) and Ford County Management Unit (FCMU). 
The number of pheasants per section was determined from roadside counts conducted 
during late April and early May. Cock call counts were also included in this 
spring's census activities. Biologists from the Illinois Department of Conservation 
recorded cock calls along routes in the SSA, the FCMU, and the three townships 
that are proposed for future roadside seeding. 
Cock calls were recorded during nine mornings per area (the SSA excepted) 
during the first 3 weeks of May. Of the nine counts conducted per area, total 
counts for the five mornings in which numbers of calls were highest were averaged 
to derive the figures listed in Table 1. On the SSA, however, counts were con¬ 
ducted on only two mornings and therefore may not accurately reflect the numbers 
of pheasants in this area. 
Table 1. Pheasant cock calls recorded during May 1976 on the SSA, the FCMU, and 
the three townships proposed for future roadside seeding. 
Area 
County 
Average Number of Calls 
per 2-minute Stop 
SSA 
Fore’ 
13.7- 
FCMU 
Ford 
21.0 
Anchor Township 
McLean 
19.9 
Harwood Township 
Champaign 
11.5 
Prairie Green Township 
1roquois 
28.4 
- Call 
counts conducted on only two mornings. 
NATURAL HISTORY SURVEY 
AUG 10 1976 
LIBRARY 
