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WOV 1 0 1981 
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Department of Conservation and Natural History Survey, Cooperating 
Glen C. Sanderson and Eva Steger, Editors 
MONTHLY WILDLIFE RESEARCH LETTER 
Illinois Federal Aid Projects W-66-R, V/-37-R, and V/-33-R 
Urbana» Illinois 
October, 1931 
Vol. 24, Mo. 10 
R. E. Warner 
Manipulation of Pheasa nt Habita t ~ W-6o-R 
Recruitment of juveniles into the fall population of pheasants on 5 study 
areas in east-central Illinois has improved little since 197 ? (Table 1 ). An. 
improved rate of recruitment would indicate pheasant populations are recovering 
from the decimating winter storms of 19/7"7'* 
On the Ford County Management Unit (FCMU), spring breeding censuses 
(MWRL 24(8):1) and nest data (MWRL 24(9):1) indicate pheasants made some recovery 
in 1980 and 1931. However, the improved rate of hatched nests has not resulted 
in substantial increases in fall pheasant densities. An unusually high pro- . 
portion of early nests hatched on the FCMU in 19 rt 1* presumably due to fair spring 
weather. These early hatches in hay and on some roadsides accounted for most of 
the increase in successful nests on the FCMU in 1981 over 19*d0 (MWRL 2 j(9):1). 
Brood censuses (Table 1) on the 5 study areas in 19 1 detected almost no 
broods that hatched after mid-June. On the Sibley Study Area (SSA), the 10 brood 
counts in July were the highest in several years, but in August the number of 
broods declined steadily through the 11 counts taken. This decline is attributed 
to mortality, to the reduced chances of older broods being observed during roadside 
censuses, and to a lack of chicks hatched later than June. In east-central 
Illinois, frequent torrential rains during July and August may have impaired the 
survival of embryos and young pheasant chicks. 
Next month, we will consider the November 19ol hunter harvest of pheasants 
on the study areas. 
Table 1. Broods observed per 100 miles of driving in August on 5 study areas 
in east-central Illinois. Illinois Department of Conservation personnel (project 
VJ-05-D) assisted with the censuses. 
Year 
SSA 
FCMU 
Anchor 
Harwood 
Prairie Green 
1977 
2.31 
26.92 
5.16 
7-00 
5.73 
1973 
0.97 
0.63 
1.96 
4.27 
2.52 
1979 
2.90 
4.38 
0.74 
7.50 
3.90 
1«S0 
2.25 
4.33 
5.71 
5.00 
4.59 
1981 
1.63 
3-75 
4.00 
5.63 
3.77 
