Illinois Waterfowl Surveys and Investigations

Fournier, Auriel M.V.; Bradshaw, Abigail B.; Bradshaw, Therin M.; Gilbert, Andrew D.; Kross, Chelsea S.; Osborn, Joshua M.; Cremer, Chad; Pietrunti, Nicole; Ward, Michael P.

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/124764 Copy

Description

Title

Illinois Waterfowl Surveys and Investigations

Author(s)

• Fournier, Auriel M.V.
• Bradshaw, Abigail B.
• Bradshaw, Therin M.
• Gilbert, Andrew D.
• Kross, Chelsea S.
• Osborn, Joshua M.
• Cremer, Chad
• Pietrunti, Nicole
• Ward, Michael P.

Issue Date

2024-09-30

Keyword(s)

• Waterfowl
• Shorebirds
• Central Mississippi river valleys
• Migration
• Aerial Inventory

Geographic Coverage

Illinois

Abstract

The Illinois and Mississippi river valleys are major migration and wintering areas for nearly 30 species of waterfowl in the Mississippi Flyway. Additionally, these regions provide significant recreational opportunities (e.g., hunting and bird watching). Data from aerial inventories are used to direct waterfowl management, habitat acquisition, ecological research, and for public outreach. There are many important private, state, and federal waterfowl areas and refuges within these river floodplains, such as the Mark Twain National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), the Illinois River National Wildlife and Fish Refuges, and the Keokuk Pool. The Illinois Natural History Survey (INHS), with support from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Fund through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), has conducted aerial inventories of waterfowl along the Illinois and Mississippi rivers since 1948 (flown each year but 2001). This undertaking represents the longest known inventory of waterfowl, preceding even the USFWS breeding waterfowl counts and mid-winter inventories established in 1955. Therefore, 75 years of data exist on autumn- migrating waterfowl for these critical ecoregions, collected by only 5 observers. Aerial inventory data are frequently requested and used by federal and state agencies for regulatory decisions, evaluation of management or enhancement projects, and conservation prioritization. Specifically, the IDNR relies on these inventories to guide the establishment of hunting season dates, zones, and other regulations and to prioritize wetland habitat acquisitions. Previously, this database has been used by the Mississippi Flyway Technical Section and Council to monitor abundance and distribution of migrating waterfowl, especially canvasbacks, mallards, and northern pintails. Requests for inventory information are received annually from state, federal, and private-sector employees to be used for projects such as Environmental Management Programs, scientific publications, theses and dissertations, formal presentations, and newspaper and magazine articles. Further, the long-term nature of this dataset makes it particularly unique and valuable; therefore, it was essential that the autumn inventory database continue to be summarized and maintained for future analyses. We monitored waterfowl in Illinois to maintain this long-term dataset, evaluated spatial and temporal variation in abundance and distribution of waterfowl, and presented these data concisely to aid waterfowl and wetland management decisions in this region.

Publisher

Illinois Natural History Survey

Series/Report Name or Number

Technical Report INHS 2024 (19)

Type of Resource

text

Language

eng

Sponsor(s)/Grant Number(s)

W-43-R-71

Copyright and License Information

This document is a product of the Illinois Natural History Survey, and has been selected and made available by the Illinois Natural History Survey and the University Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It is intended solely for noncommercial research and educational use, and proper attribution is requested.

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