MONTHLY WILDLIF& RESEARCH LETTER 
Department of Conservation and Natural History Survey, Cooperating 
Glen C. Sanderson and Helen C. Schultz, Editors 
Urbana, Illinois 
June, 1974 
Vo). 17, No. 6 
Manipulation of Pheasant Habitat G. 8. Joselyn 
The report for July 1973 (MWRL 16(7):1) pointed out that in the intensively 
farmed cash grain region constituting the prime pheasant range in Illinois, the 
timing and progress of annual farming activities can have a substantial Impact on 
pheasant chick production in a given year. Data from studies at Sibley show that 
as much as 80 percent of all successful pheasant nests are produced in hay and on 
roadsides. Thus, any changes in normal farming activities that delay hay harvest 
or roadside mowing can benefit incubating hens by allowing them sufficient time to 
complete the hatch. 
in 1973 # wet weather delayed planting and cultivation of corn and soybeans 
throughout much of the Illinois pheasant range, which, in turn, delayed the harvest 
of hay and the mowing of roadsides, thus allowing a greater than normal proportion 
of nest cover to remain standing relatively late in the nesting season. These 
conditions were considered to have contributed substantially to good productivity 
^ of pheasants in 1973 * 
This past spring, indications were that hayfield and roadside cover would, 
unlike 1973, be mowed considerably ahead of normal. A dry fall in 1973 allowed 
virtually all fall plowing to be completed as planned, and dry weather In early 
spring expedited corn planting during the first 10 days of May. Thus, it appeared 
that roadside mowing was started earlier than normal by some farmers and that a 
greater than usual amount of hay was harvested prior to June t. 
However, frequent and sometimes heavy precipitation occurred throughout much 
of the Illinois pheasant range during the first 3 weeks of June. With the re¬ 
sulting long delays in planting and corn cultivation, no hay has been harvested 
(of what little there is) on either the study area at Sibley or on the Ford County 
Management Unit since June I. There has also been a noticeable reduction In 
roadside mowing at Sibley and on the remainder of southern Ford County. Again, as 
in I973> it appears that aberrant rainfall is helping pheasant productivity by 
delaying hay harvest and roadside mowing. 
Ecology and Management of Squirrels C. H* Nixon, 
S. P. Havera 
Monitoring the reproductive status of squirrel populations in late winter and 
early spring often indicates the successful ness of the approaching squirrel season. 
Squirrels born in February and March, from the first or winter breeding season. 
