Vol. 2k, No. 6 
Page k 
We are developing a permanent collection of histological slides of plant 
leaf epidermal material. This collection will aid in identifying small particles 
In rumen specimens and leaf epidermal fragments in deer fecal samples. Approxi¬ 
mately 70 such samples have been collected, and analysis will begin soon. 
Cooperative Waterfowl Research - W-38-R F.C. Bell rose, S.P. Havera, 
G.A. Perkins, H.K. Archer 
For many species of waterfowl, Illinois is about midway between the breeding 
and wintering grounds. Illinois is located in the Mississippi Flyway and is also 
crossed by several migration corridors leading to such diverse wintering grounds 
as Chesapeake Bay, coastal South Carolina, Florida, Mobile Bay, Arkansas, 
Louisiana, and Texas. Large contingents of mallards make a major change in flight 
direction in the state. They fly southeastward from Saskatchewan to Illinois, 
then south or south-southwestward to wintering grounds in Arkansas and Louisiana. 
Some waterfowl banding recoveries in the state have been studied for 
migration patterns; others, particularly of the less important species, have not. 
Visual observations and radar surveillance are other sources of directional 
information. 
We plan to increase our knowledge of migration patterns through Illinois by 
analyzing banding recoveries of waterfowl tagged in Illinois, analyzing recoveries 
of waterfowl taken in Illinois but banded elsewhere (particularly delineating 
migration patterns for species banded in small numbers or not banded in the 
state), and by summarizing ground visual observations and pilot reports. We 
will also investigate records of radar surveillance of waterfowl migration. 
Although species cannot always be identified, credible deductions can often be 
made from time, speed, location, and flight direction of the radar targets. 
To optimize waterfowl management, the migratory patterns of the many 
populations must be documented. Information we hope to gather on the corridors 
used by different waterfowl species in migrating through Illinois can be used to 
establish future refuges or developed areas, or both. Such knowledge would also 
assist management establish expenditure priorities for enhancing existing 
refuges and public shooting areas. 
