MONTHLY WILDLIFE RESEARCH LETTER 
Department of Conservation and Natural History Survey, Cooperating 
Glen C. Sanderson and Helen C. Schultz, Editors 
Urbana, Illinois 
September, 1973 
Vol. 16, No. 9 
Manipulation of Pheasant Habitat G. B. Joselyn 
The preceding MWRL (16(8):1) listed three possible approaches to management 
of roadside cover, over a large area, that would involve the seeding of roadsides: 
(1) seedings of roadsides graded as part of the ongoing road-maintenance work in 
townships and counties (Graded Roadside Program); (2) seedings of roadsides at the 
request of individual farm operators (Volunteer Program); and (3) block seedings of 
all roadsides in designated townships or parts of townships (Block Seeding Program). 
The potential of the Graded Roadside Program appears to be substantial. In 
most townships throughout the prime pheasant counties, several miles of roadsides 
are graded each year in the course of routine maintenance. Generally, grading is 
done preparatory to applying bituminous material to gravel, oiled earth, and dirt 
roads that are maintained by townships. Grading renders most of these roadsides 
• virtually useless as pheasant nest habitat for several years, the length of time 
depending upon previous vegetative cover, the depth of the grade, and other factors. 
Only those few miles of roadsides along county-maintained roads are reseeded after 
grading. Along township roads (these constitute the bulk of graded roadsides in 
most counties), where reseeding is generally not undertaken, soil erosion and weed 
problems are evidelnt for several years after grading. 
There is good evidence that substantial acreages of graded roadsides are 
annually available for management. County Superintendents of Highways in five 
east-central Illinois counties (Champaign, Ford, Iroquois, Livingston, and McLean) 
were queried in late 1971 regarding the acreage of graded roadsides in these counties. 
Combined estimates from these officials indicate that about 180 to 215 miles of 
road are graded on both sides each year in these five counties, or 360 to 430 miles 
of roadside (720 to 860 acres) per year. Furthermore, since the upgrading of 
existing roads is an ongoing program (done as funds become available), similar 
acreages will be graded each year for the next several years. We do not know to 
what extent grading is carried on in other counties. No doubt many other counties 
have similar programs, but some may not, making projections to additional counties 
somewhat tenuous. Nevertheless, a rough projection to a nine-county area including 
Douglas, Macon (north half), Piatt, and Vermilion counties, in addition to the five 
named above, indicates a potential annual availability of 750 miles of graded 
roadsides (1,500 acres). This acreage represents an estimated annual availability 
°f 3*7 percent of the total area of rural roadsides in these counties (highway 
roadsides excluded). 
The next report 
Roadside Program. 
discuss advantages and disadvantages of the Graded 
NATURAL HISTORY SURVEY 
1973 
