46 THE ee ASU SD Us BO. Nee Baie ela 
WOOD DUCK POPULATION TRENDS 
OBJECT OF FIRST SURVEY REORT 
The initial wood duck stream survey report was completed late in 1972 
by waterfowl! biologists of the Illinois Department of Conservation. 
The count was conducted by George Arthur, chief waterfowl biologist, 
and Dave Kennedy, southern Illinois waterfowl biologist, with the help of 
district wildlife biologists throughout the state. It covered 65 streams and 
over 572 miles of water in Illinois. 
“In the past we have had to manage the wood duck population ‘after 
the fact,’ because we did not know how big the population was until after 
hunting season,” Arthur pointed out. 
The purpose of the survey was to provide a method of assessing wood 
duck population trends in Illinois. The count began in late May in southern 
Illinois and continued through mid-July, ending in northern Illinois. 
Selected stream segments were floated in canoes by biologists and duck 
activity along the streams was recorded. 
Segments of the streams were selected for approximate even distribu- 
tion throughout the survey, and the floats were made on all types of 
habitat. Most floats were made in 5 to 15 mile segments. 
“With this initial survey, we are only establishing an index to 
measure the population in future years,” Arthur said. 
“Approximately 12 percent of the waterfowl population harvested in 
Illinois is wood ducks, which make the species the second most important 
duck, following the mallard, as far as sportsmen are concerned. These 
pre-season floats will give us a measuring stick to set bag limits and 
season dates.” 
Arthur said that southern Illinois showed the most ducks during the 
floats, probably due to the fact that they have more streams and better 
nesting and brood habitat. There were 733 birds counted, averaging 4.39 
birds per mile and 1.29 nests per mile. Northern Illinois showed 411 
birds, running 2.14 birds per mile and .84 nests per mile. Central Illinois 
trailed the count with 372 birds, with 1.79 birds per mile and .53 nests 
per mile. 
fl fi ft ft 
Summer Birds in Southwestern Illinois 
This is to report on three species studied in southwestern Illinois during 
the summer of 1972. The three are Mississippi kite, least tern and Swainson’s 
warbler. 
We were aware of three pair of breeding Mississippi kites. One pair 
nested in Fort Kaskaskia State Park and another pair nested about two 
miles north of the park (both sites in Randolph County). The third breeding 
pair was observed near Fults (Monroe County). In addition, there were two 
second year kites in the park area, but they showed no evidence of being 
involved with breeding. 
Of special interest was the pair at Kaskaskia Park. This pair built their 
nest about 17-18 feet off the ground in a sugar maple and directly over 
