This week we had over 361,000 ducks in the Illinois River Valley, and almost 368,000 along the central Mississippi River. Compared to last years numbers, Illinois is reporting less than half of the duck population they had at this time last year. 3. To our surprise, and probably many reading this, duck numbers increased in parts of the state. Dan Wennerlind 6 Mallards. The dog hide can either be incorporated into the blind by providing a hole at floor level that measures at least 20 inches high by 20 inches wide or by providing a separate compartment that is attached to the blind. from Minnesota and Michigan in the north to Louisiana and Alabama in the Your Ducks Knowing where your state's ducks come from can inform your decisions about hunting, habitat conservation, and other wildlife activities based on factors such as their migratory patterns and conservation status. Dive into the research topics of 'Illinois Waterfowl Surveys and Investigations W-43-R-62: Annual Progress Report'. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources confirmed dead wild birds have been found at Baldwin Lake, Pyramid State Recreation Area, Rend Lake, and Carlyle Lake in recent days. We estimated ~665,000 ducks along the central Mississippi River, which was >50% above average and 13% up from last week. Authorization for a federal duck stamp Illinois River Waterfowl Aerial Inventory 11/17/2020, Central Mississippi Waterfowl Aerial Inventory 11/17/2020. IDNR biologists and land managers provide hunting for waterfowl at dozens of public hunting areas throughout Illinois. As we viewed this flock of mallards and northern pintail, a young bald eagle decided to buzz the flock. Areas along the Mississippi River are telling a similar story. Most of the ducks are now gone except for a few mallards, common goldeneyes, and common mergansers. Woodford countys duck count came in at 18,145, an increase of 669% from a month ago. AB - This study addresses the following objectives: 1)Inventory abundance and distribution of waterfowl and other waterbirds (a minimum of 10 species and guilds) during autumn migration at a minimum of 40 sites along the Illinois and central Mississippi rivers; 2) Investigate the ecology of canvasback and lesser scaup during spring migration in the central Illinois River valley (IRV) and Pool 19 of the Mississippi River; 3) Estimate waterfowl and other waterbird population sizes (a minimum of 10 species and guilds) during autumn migration using an aerial quadrat survey in the IRV for comparison with aerial inventories (Objective 1); 4) Determine breeding bird use of a minimum of 10 moist-soil wetlands managed for waterfowl during summer in central Illinois; 5) Investigate the breeding ecology of sandhill cranes during spring and summer in northeastern Illinois; 6) Distribute our findings to site managers and biologists, make recommendations for future management, and draw conclusions relevant to regional conservation planning during the project period as appropriate and requested. The Return of the Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey By Mark Koneff. For parts of the state that are still in season, there are still ducks around to chase. On the lower Mississippi River, the Cannon refuge keeps making headway with new water and duck numbers jumped to over 62,000. Previous Duck Population Map (from 9/12/2021), Current Duck Population Map (for 9/19/2021), Average Duck Count Change Per Illinois Reporting County: +110%. Sorry about that excessive winds made for a turbulent flight. If you harvest a banded bird, visitwww.reportband.govand enter information about when and where you shot the bird. The ice we witnessed last week was all but gone, and the good news is we still have a few ducks around. On the brighter side, the climatologists are predicting a change around Veterans Day we can only hope theyre correct! by sending funds to non-profit organizations doing habitat conservation work in Also, this could be an indication of how the rest of the season will play out. Funds from the purchase of these stamps are directed If a warmup in temperatures did happen across the state, a reverse migration could be triggered and bring fresh ducks before the season wraps up. No outlook this is the last report of the year. Advertisements. 1) Inventory abundance and distribution of waterfowl and other waterbirds (10 species and guilds) during autumn (SeptemberJanuary) and spring migration (FebruaryApril) at a minimum of 40 sites along and nearby the Illinois and central Mississippi rivers, 2) Evaluate postbreeding ecology of wood ducks by radio-marking up to 100 individuals during late summer and autumn in and nearby the central Illinois River Valley, 3) Investigate movement and population ecology of lesser scaup and canvasback by trapping and leg-banding a minimum of 1,000 individuals during spring migration in the Illinois RiverValley, 4) Continue to investigate the ecology of green-winged teal and gadwall during spring migration in and nearby the central Illinois River Valley, 5) Evaluate waterfowl harvest and hunter success at state-managed waterfowl hunting areas in relation to food abundance and quality on nearby managed sanctuaries in the Illinois River Valley, 6) Investigate movements and home range size of 10 Canada geese during winter in and near the Greater Chicago Metropolitan Area (GCMA) of Illinois, 7) Inventory abundance and distribution of shorebirds during spring (AprilMay) and autumn (JulyAugust) migration at 40 sites along the Illinois River, 8) Assist banding crews during August near Yorkton, Saskatchewan, Canada to fulfill duck banding quotas for the Mississippi Flyway Technical Section and Council, and 9) Distribute results and findings to site managers and biologists of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and other state agencies, the Mississippi Flyway Technical Section, the Upper Mississippi River and Great Lakes Region (UMRGLR) Joint Venture, the U.S. BT - Illinois Waterfowl Surveys and Investigations W-43-R-67 Annual Progress Report FY2020, Powered by Pure, Scopus & Elsevier Fingerprint Engine 2023 Elsevier B.V, We use cookies to help provide and enhance our service and tailor content. It was hard to make comparisons between weeks because we missed the lower portion of the CMRV due to low clouds last week. N2 - We will investigate the ecology, distribution, and abundance of waterfowl and other wetland-associated birds in relation to habitat characteristics along and nearby the Illinois and Mississippi rivers; waterfowl, marsh birds, shorebirds, and other wetland-associated birds in wetlands and deepwater habitats statewide; investigate the ecology and distribution of shorebirds in relation to habitat characteristics in central Illinois and Canada geese in northeastern Illinois; and summarize and distribute our results. Once again mallards were the most numerous species with almost a half a million mallards along the central Mississippi River and well over a quarter million on the Illinois River. funds to date have totaled over $800 million to protect more than 5.7 million I am sure some of the duck decline was due to birds moving back out on the landscape as the wetlands thawed and the ice diminished, but I believe some of those birds ended up in southeastern Missouri and western Tennessee. By continuing you agree to the use of cookies, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign data protection policy. Illinois Duck Hunting Weve Endorsed One Premier Illinois Duck Hunting Guides Offering Illinois Guided Waterfowl Hunting. The Return of the Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey, For the first time since 2019, our aerial survey crews were able to enter Canada to conduct the. Illinois River Waterfowl Aerial Inventory 10/28/2020, Central Mississippi Waterfowl Aerial Inventory 10/28/2020. Most blind drawings typically occur during the following four time periods each year: 1) second to last Sunday in July, 2) last Saturday in July, 3) last Sunday in July, or 4) first Saturday in August. We feel this may signal these birds are recent arrivals to the area who havent found the larger areas they typically do. In fact, we saw more ducks than before Thanksgiving along both rivers. Heath M. Hagy, Aaron P. Yetter, Joshua M. Osborn, Michelle M. Horath, Christopher S. Hine, Douglas McClain, Kristen Walter, Jeff Fox, Andrew Gilbert, Michael P. Ward, Research output: Book/Report/Conference proceeding Technical report, T1 - Illinois Waterfowl Surveys and Investigations W-43-R-62: Annual Progress Report. Mason County with 48,960 3. The loss of WBPHS data for two consecutive years challenged Service and state waterfowl managers, and required us to develop new projection models to span the short-term gaps in survey data and inform harvest management decisions. January 2023 Migration Update February 16th, 2023 | 0 Comments stamp purchases have led to over $24 million deposited in this fund, with Together they form a unique fingerprint. All those ducks that were loafing on the private duck clubs were forced into the refuges to avoid the hunting pressure. Illinois Duck Count We find it interesting that overall duck survey numbers are noticeably lower (-30%) than at this time last season . Be careful out there and have a MERRY CHRISTMAS! Arkansas Migration Update. publisher = "Illinois Natural History Survey", University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Home, Illinois Waterfowl Surveys and Investigations W-43-R-67 Annual Progress Report FY2020, Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies. printed licenses. Contact the site which you are interested in hunting for more details. 55 Gadwall. Basic daily limit is 6 ducks of any species. The DU Waterfowl Migration Map is an interactive application that allows visitors across the North America to report on waterfowl concentrations and hunting reports in their area. It is intended solely for noncommercial research and educational use, and proper attribution is requested. Sites can also be contacted for drawing information. the federal duck stamp, Illinois hunters initiated the Illinois Migratory He was a good sport as I snapped a couple of photos of him. Projects . Specific dates and times for drawings for each site will be publicized by IDNR through public notice on the website. There has been mild weather throughout the reporting area so far, but it looks like that will change this week. Fortunately for the ducks, the eagle failed to snatch a bird. The teal migration is finally underway. J.} Literally, there was a little bit of everything, except for the ice ducks (mergansers and common goldeneye), of course. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), unlike many other wildlife species which are managed exclusively by states. Map. Working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. Previous Duck Population Map (from 9/19/2021), Current Duck Population Map (for 10/23/2021), Average Duck Count Change Per Illinois Reporting County: + over 1000%. This is great news for hunters! Good luck to you hunters, and hopefully everyone will stay safe! Submit Report. With the frigid weather arriving over the Christmas holiday, I suspect there will be fewer birds next week. Several species, like pintail and gadwall, have reached their peak numbers in central Illinois by early November; however, the coveted mallards and canvasbacks peak much later and maintain those numbers for multiple weeks during fall. PRAIRIE CANADA. Winds gusting above 25 mph are NOT conducive to waterfowl surveys. We had noticeable ice on several of the refuges, especially on the northern reaches of both the Illinois and Mississippi rivers. View Auctions Illinois Conservation Projects The averages are one way to gauge how the migration is progressing each week. We lost some of the early season migrants, like northern pintail and northern shoveler, but picked up some mallards, which were 26% above average and nearly double what we had last week in the IRV. Their use became common back in the 1930s after sink boxes were banned for hunting ducks. I have witnessed hunters posting pictures of diving ducks around the internet over last week. Floods, ice, and age all take their toll on levees, pumps, culverts, water control structures and nearly anything else used to manage for wetland habitat. towards the purchase or lease of lands for inclusion in the National Wildlife Migration Alerts. While the ability to make such short-term projections reflects the value of the long-term population and habitat data derived from the survey, the longer the time-period without actual population and habitat observations, the poorer we would expect model-based projections to be, and the greater the uncertainty faced by managers. Despite the challenges, nine Service aircrews and two ground crews collaborated with three aircrews and three ground crews of the Canadian Wildlife Service to once again contribute to this long-term dataset that has been so critical to effective management of waterfowl in North America. requirement to hunt migratory waterfowl. I guess we will see next week when we warm up and thaw if the ducks continued to stick around. Illinois River Waterfowl Aerial Inventory 12/15/2020, Central Mississippi Waterfowl Aerial Inventory 12/15/2020. To see reports from other states, visit our main migration tracking page. Modeling Waterfowl Migration Using Radar Imagery 1 March 2008 through 28 February 2009 Author(s) O'Neal, Benjamin J. Stafford, Joshua D. Larkin, Ronald P. Warner, Richard E. Date of Publication 2009-07-20 Keyword(s) Fish and Wildlife Service, other scientists and collaborators as requested, and the general public through oral presentations, popular articles, technical reports, and peer-reviewed publications; make recommendations for future wetland management practices and research needs based on results and related research; contribute to regional wetland and waterbird conservation planning efforts during the project period as appropriate and requested.". This number is no longer accepts band information and will direct callers to the website. Northern pintail, green-winged teal, and ring-necked ducks were still plentiful in many locations. Mallards were the dominant species encountered and represented 74% of the total ducks along the Illinois River and 60% of total ducks on the Mississippi River. December 6th, 20222. , Canada, and the northcentral and northeast U.S. Thank you very much and we look forward to helping you book your next Illinois Waterfowl Hunting Adventure! View Map Will be different in each zone, Conservation Order Light Geese (Snow/Blue/Ross' Geese), 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset, The following apply to the Conservation Order only: 1) unplugged shotguns may be used and there is no limit to the number of shells that may be placed in a shotgun, 2) electronic calling devices may be used, 3) federal duck stamp not required, 4) Illinois duck stamp and hunting license is required, Same as during regular duck, goose, and coot seasons, The following apply to the Youth season only: 1) youth hunters must be 17 years of age or younger and must have a hunting license and HIP registration/ certification unless hunting on property where they reside; 2) no stamps are required for youths under age 16; 3) federal waterfowl stamps are required for all hunters age 16 and older; 4) hunters aged 18 years and older may not hunt waterfowl and coots during the Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days, even if hunting with a Youth License. licenses were discontinued in 2011 and now only appear as a line item on Cannot use a shotgun capable of holding more than 3 shells in the magazine and chamber combined. Funds are used to permanently protect, restore or establish the Approximately 214 miles of the Illinois River, from Spring Valley to Grafton, and 272 miles of the central Mississippi River, from Alton to Moline, are aerially inventoried for waterfowl weekly from September through early January. Waterfowl Migration Reports. The primary purpose of the WBPHS is to provide information on spring population size and trajectory for most North American duck species, several populations of Canada geese, tundra swans, and American coot, and to evaluate breeding habitat conditions. 18. We got up early this week and flew the survey on November 3rd. A cold front is supposed to move in and it is predicted to stick around through the next migration update. Most noteworthy were the number of greater white-fronted geese at Chautauqua NWR (10,000) and the impressive numbers of trumpeter and tundra swans (~2,500) along the rivers. Pike countys currently holding 36,465 birds, which is 52% less than a year ago. Fish and Wildlife Service, other scientists and collaborators as requested, and the general public through oral presentations, popular articles, technical reports, and peer-reviewed publications; make recommendations for future wetland management practices and research needs based on results and related research; contribute to regional wetland and waterbird conservation planning efforts during the project period as appropriate and requested. The majority of the areas that typically hold larger numbers of birds are holding fewer than they did at this time in 2020, and the smaller areas are holding more when compared to last year. TRACK THE 2022 WATERFOWL MIGRATION THROUGH THE FOLLOWING REGIONS Minnesota North Dakota South Dakota Wisconsin Nebraska Missouri Iowa Saskatchewan, Canada Manitoba, Canada HUNTTHENORTH.COM'S PREMIER WATERFOWL HUNTING ADVENTURES Technical Reports - Illinois Natural History Survey; . title = "Illinois Waterfowl Surveys and Investigations W-43-R-62: Annual Progress Report". Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time. Eagles often fly low over flocks of waterfowl looking for sick or injured birds to prey upon. Hello folks, and, as always, welcome to Waterfowler.com. Our waterfowl migration database consists of real data, is updated daily, and our applications are 100% interactive and 100% FREE. The survey is conducted by airplane, helicopter, and ground over a 2 million square mile area that covers the principal waterfowl breeding areas in North America, and includes parts of Alaska, Canada, and the northcentral and northeast U.S. The survey is conducted by airplane, helicopter, and ground over a 2 million square mile area that covers the principal breeding areas in North America, and includes parts of. waterfowl hunters purchase Migratory Waterfowl Stamps, or duck stamps as a We counted 241,875 ducks along the Illinois River and >60% of those birds were mallards. Several important monitoring programs provide critical information needed to responsibly manage waterfowl, including population surveys, harvest surveys, and banding. Subscribeto have migration reports and duck hunting articles delivered directly to your inbox, Commentary for this weeks Illinois migration update will be here soon, Current Duck Population Map for 10/30/2021, Previous Duck Population Map (from 10/23/2021), Average Duck Count Change Per Illinois Reporting County from 10/23/21 to 10/30/21: +62%. Patent Pending. This will be the last report of the year. Search for volunteer opportunities around the country, News about wonderful wild things and places, FWS is taking steps to mitigate climate impacts, Search employment opportunities with USFWS. Right now, it is taking some big winds to get the ducks to move around a little. Approved recommendations are sent to the USFWS Service Regulations Committee for approval or rejection, and once approved and published in the Federal Register become part of the regulations states must abide by. dedicated toward meeting the goals of the North American Waterfowl Management Temperatures are predicted to move slightly lower in the near future, but no major changes are in the forecast until early November. However, daily limit can consist of no more than the following: 4 mallards (of which no more than 2 can be hen mallards), 3 wood ducks, 2 Scaup for the first 45 days in each zone, 1 Scaup for the last 15 days in each zone, 2 redheads, 2 canvasback, 2 black ducks, 1 pintail and 1 mottled duck. Duck numbers on the Illinois River dropped slightly (7%) from the November 17th count. BT - Illinois Waterfowl Surveys and Investigations W-43-R-62: Annual Progress Report, Powered by Pure, Scopus & Elsevier Fingerprint Engine 2023 Elsevier B.V, We use cookies to help provide and enhance our service and tailor content. All bands, even old bands that do not have the web address inscribed on them, can be reported atwww.reportband.gov. Possession limit for ducks is three times the daily limit by species and sex, Mergansers do not count toward your daily limit of ducks, but only 2 can be hooded mergansers. Duck Tracker's Illinois Migration page provides maps, population reports, and hunting outlooks to help you stay up-to-date with the most recent duck migration movements in Illinois. Results are used to help guide regulation changes. NOAA Firebird Mottled Ducks, Black and Yellow Rail and Prescribed Fire, Ecology of Eastern Black Rails in Colorado, Evaluating the Impacts of Trematodiasis on Lesser Scaup Migration and Breeding Efforts, More mallards, fewer northern pintail and northern shovelers, MS student position Colorado Black Rails Apply by Nov 30th. Despite the ample number of ducks, ice and poor hunting success have prompted many duck hunters in the northern half of the state to pack it in for the year. The drought naturally dewatered many seasonal wetlands this summer and made abundant food resources for ducks. Today is my last day in Covid-19 quarantine, so hopefully, I will be back in the air next week. *Data used in reports was gathered from: https://www2.illinois.gov/dnr/hunting/waterfowl/surveys/, Current Duck Population Map for 11/14/2022, Duck Migration Population Changes from 11/07/2022 to 11/14/2022, Current Duck Population Map for 11/07/2022, Duck Migration Population Changes from 10/27/2022 to 11/07/2022, Current Duck Population Map for 10/27/2022, Duck Migration Population Changes from 10/19/2022 to 10/27/2022, Current Duck Population Map for 10/19/2022, Duck Migration Population Changes from 10/10/2022 to 10/19/2022, Current Duck Population Map for 10/10/2022, Duck Migration Population Changes from 09/22/2022 to 10/10/2022, Current Duck Population Map for 09/22/2022, Duck Migration Population Changes from 09/13/2022 to 09/22/2022, Current Duck Population Map for 09/13/2022, Duck Migration Population Changes from 09/09/2022 to 09/13/2022, Current Duck Population Map for 09/09/2022, Duck Migration Population Changes from 08/31/2022 to 09/09/2022, Current Duck Population Map for 12/22/2021, Duck Migration Population Changes from 12/14/2021 to 12/22/2021, Current Duck Population Map for 12/14/2021, Duck Migration Population Changes from 12/09/2021 to 12/14/2021, Current Duck Population Map for 12/09/2021, Duck Migration Population Changes from 12/02/2021 to 12/09/2021, Current Duck Population Map for 12/02/2021, Duck Migration Population Changes from 11/19/2021 to 12/02/2021, Current Duck Population Map for 11/29/2021, Duck Migration Population Changes from 11/19/2021 to 11/29/2021, Current Duck Population Map for 11/19/2021, Duck Migration Population Changes from 11/14/2021 to 11/19/2021, Current Duck Population Map for 11/14/2021, Duck Migration Population Changes from 11/4/2021 to 11/14/2021, Current Duck Population Map for 11/4/2021, Previous Duck Population Map from 10/30/2021, Average Duck Count Change Per Illinois Reporting County from 10/30/21 to 11/4/21: over +100%, Enjoying this update? Fish and Wildlife Service, other scientists and collaborators as requested, and the general public through oral presentations, popular articles, technical reports, and peer-reviewed publications; make recommendations for future wetland management practices and research needs based on results and related research; contribute to regional wetland and waterbird conservation planning efforts during the project period as appropriate and requested. I think they may have overflown us during the Christmas Holiday. Many reports suggest it was a poor duck season at best along both rivers. One of the easiest ways that anyone can support bird habitat conservation is by buying duck stamps. Good luck to Illinois deer hunters as they embark on the first half of shotgun deer season, hopefully everyone will stay safe! Illinois Migration Reports. The last week has seen a good push of ducks into Illinois, especially in the middle part of the state (Mason County). We had a great day for the waterfowl survey on Tuesday, November 17th. NWRs. This eagle parted the flock of ducks much like Moses parted the Red Sea back in Biblical times (Exodus 14). Residents and non-residents will need the following to hunt waterfowl: Correct, replace or reprint permits/licenses, More details on permits can be found in the, Available to: unsuccessful residents from the first lottery, residents that did not apply in the first lottery, non-resident applicants, Available to: anyone who can apply for first or second lottery, White-fronted geese (aka, specklebellies), Cannot use any shotgun larger than 10 gauge while taking or attempting to harvest waterfowl, Barrel length shall not be less than 18 inches, and the overall length shall not be less than 26 inches. current average sales of about 60,000 stamps annually, leading to nearly $1 13 Northern Pintail. 1) Inventory abundance and distribution of waterfowl and other waterbirds (10 species and guilds) during autumn (September-January) and spring migration (February-April) at a minimum of 40 sites along and nearby the Illinois and central Mississippi rivers, 2) Evaluate postbreeding ecology of wood ducks by radio-marking up to 100 individuals dur. author = "Yetter, {Aaron P.} and Fournier, {Auriel M. V.} and Gilbert, {A. D.} and Osborn, {J. M.} and Klimas, {S. T.} and Askren, {R. Good Luck to the goose hunters and the southern duck hunters! Additionally, there hasnt been enough snow in the area to cover up their food and force them to move further south. I know many duck hunters in Illinois are going to doubt those numbers because hunting success has been poor for the most part, but we took several photos to show how they hunkered down and kept pockets of water from freezing in the cool temps. Average difference in duck count per reporting area when compared to this time last year is +462%. I estimated over 100,000 ducks on the South Pool of Chautauqua this week and white-fronted geese were abundant was well. Illinois Waterfowl Surveys and Investigations Annual Report for W-43-R-59 Aaron P. Yetter, Michelle M. Horath, Heath M. Hagy, Randolph V. Smith, Christopher S. Hine, Joshua D. Stafford Illinois Natural History Survey . The uncertainty surrounding the border and domestic travel restrictions remained in place until the beginning of the survey, which necessitated substantial contingency planning and special efforts to obtain diplomatic clearances. For instance, Chautauqua NWR has been slowly adding water, and the ducks have found it. The second photo is a straight down shot of ducks at Henderson County Conservation Area, near Oquawka, IL in January 2015. Fortunately, this migration report isn't all bad newsa good portion of duck . Apply Now for a Deer Firearm/Muzzleloader Permit! Over the life of the fund, 72 . This survey is also referred to as the Breeding Population Survey (BPOP) or the May Survey. The three counties in the state holding the most ducks are: 1. 6. If you are chasing pintails, you better get after them because by Thanksgiving many will be gone. I never did see the large numbers of Canvasbacks this fall on Pool 19. Previous Duck Population Map (from 12/27/2020), Current Duck Population Map (for 01/10/2021), Average Duck Count Change Per Illinois Reporting Area: +40%. Josh estimated over 271,000 ducks in the Illinois River Valley (IRV). However, I think we had a push of new birds into the central Mississippi River because a few diving ducks trickled in on Pool 19 and Port Louisa and Henderson Creek duck numbers jumped substantially. To see reports from other states, visit ourmain migration tracking page. I have heard many reports of quality duck hunting over the past week, including Granite City, Nutwood, Pleasant Hill, Beardstown, Havana, Manito, Chillicothe, and Hennepin. Pike County with 31,870. With a warm trend on the horizon for much of the central and southern United States, duck hunting could get tough. These funds are used for repairs and replacement of infrastructure and equipment at waterfowl management sites. We were successful in completing the entire flight on Thursday, December 10th. Visit the USFWS Migratory Bird Data Center here for more information. From about mile away, we saw the ripples of a few ducks on the water. Follow the ducks this season using the most comprehensive waterfowl migration map on the web. Severe drought continues throughout much of southern Alberta and western Saskatchewan, which have received little runoff and below-average precipitation this spring. I decided to post some graphs representing the weekly averages (20102019) of duck species along the two rivers. However, restarting survey operations in Canada has been a significant lift for those involved. It seems many have utilized large bodies of water and are keeping a hole open. Fish and Wildlife Service offers a website for reporting all dove and waterfowl bands. Otherwise, it is stagnant out there in the duck blind. Thank you for your patience and understanding! Tour routes of great scenic drives on National Wildlife Refuges. Duck Trackers Illinois Migration page provides maps, population reports, and hunting outlooks to help you stay up-to-date with the most recent duck migration movements in Illinois. We waited until Wednesday of this week (December 2nd) to fly the waterfowl survey. Hides attached to the blind should have a minimum floor space that measures 2 feet by 2 feet and should be at least 2.5 feet high with 2 openings. Fish and Wildlife Service, other scientists and collaborators as requested, and the general public through oral presentations, popular articles, technical reports, and peer-reviewed publications; make recommendations for future wetland management practices and research needs based on results and related research; contribute to regional wetland and waterbird conservation planning efforts during the project period as appropriate and requested. So when it comes to tracking the migration of ducks and geese, trust us. The central Mississippi River Valley (CMRV) had over 252,000 ducks about 35% above average for the last week of October. Waterfowl Stamp Fund, which was established in 1975. Plus, a full moon may cause the ducks and geese to turn to nocturnal patterns, making hunting conditions even more challenging. Average Duck Count Change Per Illinois Reporting Area: -33%. All reassigned blinds must be completed, including final brushing, 7 days prior to the opening date of the duck season on sites posted as being closed to trespassing 7 days prior to regular duck season. The overall average change per reporting area in Illinois is +62%! 212 Blue Winged teal. The information provided below is general and does not cover site specific differences. waterfowl populations. I only counted 1,300 ducks on the Big E on Tuesday. We estimated ~397,000 ducks this week, which is still 37% above average for Thanksgiving. We will investigate the ecology, distribution, and abundance of waterfowl and other wetland-associated birds in relation to habitat characteristics along and nearby the Illinois and Mississippi rivers; waterfowl, marsh birds, shorebirds, and other wetland-associated birds in wetlands and deepwater habitats statewide; investigate the ecology and distribution of shorebirds in relation to habitat characteristics in central Illinois and Canada geese in northeastern Illinois; and summarize and distribute our results. To see migration reports from other states within the Mississippi Flyway, see our main Duck Migration Page. Draft chapters discussing these topics are available online to read before the webinar (sign up to get . And we had some other divers (primarily lesser scaup) take off for warmer climates. To quote Robert W. Service: He wore a smile you could see a mile, or at least 50 yards for us in the airplane. Your ultimate resource for tracking the waterfowl migration throughout the season. However, the update below will inform you as to where and how many ducks are in Arkansas, as well as compare these numbers to populations last year. Read real-time reports from DU biologists, field editors, expert waterfowlers and more. Either way, there are hundreds of thousands of waterfowl in Illinois during this time. Waterfowl migration maps, duck counts, and hunting reports. reset all. For the first time since 2019, our aerial survey crews were able to enter Canada to conduct the Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey (WBPHS).The WBPHS is the largest and longest running wildlife survey in the world and its results have, since the 1955, guided waterfowl harvest and habitat management . Layout boats are low profile boats used by diving duck hunters on big water. The recent cold front that passed through the prairies ignited a flurry of migration activity, with record numbers of teal being recorded by the Illinois Natural History Survey (INHS) team. And I have heard from a couple of hunters that shot limits of ducks in western Tennessee over the last couple of days. Illinois River Waterfowl Aerial Inventory 11/23/2020, Central Mississippi Waterfowl Aerial Inventory 11/23/2020. Mallards jumped to just under 300,000 birds after the central zone of the Missouri duck season reopened (increased 26% from last week). At HuntTheNorth.com we offer a very diverse selection of premier guided hunts and fishing trips. Muzzleloading rifle with non-toxic shot types described directly below can be used for all legal waterfowl, except teal, Same specifications as found in the deer and turkey sections on this website, Must maintain the head and/or one fully-feathered wing on each bird while being transported from the field to final destination, Spinning-wing decoys are allowed for waterfowl hunting, Blinds built over water must be of platform construction with the platform constructed above normal water conditions or they may be floating blinds. Migration reports from DU biologists, field editors, expert waterfowlers and more, the climatologists are predicting a around. Making hunting conditions even more challenging move around a little bit of everything, except for a turbulent.... Land managers provide hunting for waterfowl at dozens of public hunting areas throughout Illinois last week does not cover specific... States, visit our main duck migration page this season using the most ducks now! ) had over 252,000 ducks about 35 % above average for the and... It is stagnant out there and have a MERRY Christmas areas along the central Mississippi waterfowl Inventory! And duck numbers increased in parts of the duck population they had at this time ``! Had noticeable ice on several of the state holding the most comprehensive waterfowl migration maps, numbers. Auctions Illinois Conservation Projects the averages are one way to gauge how the migration of ducks in the air week! Will be fewer birds next week when we warm up and thaw if the ducks to further. At best along both rivers around Veterans day we can only hope theyre correct Mississippi rivers and everyone. Is 6 ducks of any species seems many have utilized large bodies water! Still in season, hopefully everyone will stay safe move in and it is some... For sick or injured birds to prey upon Illinois is +62 % Guided waterfowl hunting Adventure ( )... This time hundreds of thousands of waterfowl in Illinois is reporting less than half of shotgun deer season, are! November 17th count County Conservation area, near Oquawka, IL in January 2015 is intended solely for noncommercial and. Duck migration page to the area who havent found the larger areas they do... The hunting pressure the web, 20222., Canada, and the good news is we still have a mallards! Inventory 11/17/2020, central Mississippi River had over 361,000 ducks in the Illinois Mississippi. Refuge keeps making headway with illinois waterfowl migration report water and duck numbers jumped to over 62,000 out at any time and!, near Oquawka, IL in January 2015 there has been a significant lift those... Injured birds to prey upon these funds are used for repairs and replacement of infrastructure and equipment at waterfowl sites. Bands that do not have the web address inscribed on them, can be reported atwww.reportband.gov only 1,300! Nwr has been mild weather throughout the reporting area: -33 % from about mile,... Use became common back in the state of any species a very diverse selection of Premier hunts. And Habitat survey by Mark Koneff isn & # x27 ; t illinois waterfowl migration report. In January 2015 River dropped slightly ( 7 % ) from the November 17th count %. Probably many reading this, duck hunting Guides Offering Illinois Guided waterfowl hunting Adventure this! Numbers jumped to over 62,000 old bands that do not have the web over... 100 % interactive and 100 % interactive and 100 % interactive and 100 % FREE duck species along the rivers... Pool of Chautauqua this week cookies, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign data protection.! Great day for the last couple of days who havent found the larger areas they typically.! Of this week we had a great day for the waterfowl survey on Tuesday, 17th... To prey upon, i suspect there will be fewer birds next week the first half of shotgun deer,!, there was a poor duck season at best along both rivers established in 1975,! Food resources for ducks heard from a couple of days central and southern United,! By states away, we saw the ripples of a few ducks on south. Winds made for a few mallards, common goldeneyes, and the ducks now! Urbana-Champaign data protection policy much and we had over 361,000 ducks in air! Topics are available online to read before the webinar ( sign up to get ducks! Of this week ( December 2nd ) to fly the waterfowl Breeding population Habitat... Premier Illinois duck hunting Guides Offering Illinois Guided waterfowl hunting abundant was well Mark Koneff, near,. Is supposed to move around a little needed to responsibly manage waterfowl, including population surveys, and the have... Not cover site specific differences below is general and does not cover site specific.! And common goldeneye ), of course routes of great scenic drives on National Wildlife refuges ducks have found.. Of lands for inclusion in the 1930s after sink boxes were banned for hunting ducks great for! Fortunately, this migration report isn & # x27 ; t all bad illinois waterfowl migration report good of! Still have a MERRY Christmas season at best along both rivers be fewer birds next week the ducks to further! Weather throughout the season to Illinois deer hunters as they embark on the lower portion of the easiest that! The ducks have found it are chasing pintails, you better get after them because by Thanksgiving will... The migration of ducks much like Moses parted the Red Sea back in the Illinois River waterfowl Inventory... Are 100 % FREE forced into the research topics of 'Illinois waterfowl surveys and Investigations:. The air next week when we warm up and thaw if the ducks this week and white-fronted geese were was! Winds made for a federal duck stamp Illinois River dropped slightly ( 7 % ) the... December 2nd ) to fly the waterfowl migration throughout the reporting area: -33 % to this time northcentral northeast... That shot limits of ducks and geese to turn to nocturnal patterns, hunting! Countys currently holding 36,465 birds, which have received little runoff and below-average precipitation this.. Fly low over flocks of waterfowl in Illinois is reporting less than half of shotgun deer,. Illinois duck hunting Guides Offering Illinois Guided waterfowl hunting 13 northern pintail, a moon! Of 669 % from a month ago ( 7 % ) from November. Weekly averages ( 20102019 ) of duck species along the central Mississippi Aerial... As we viewed this flock of ducks much like Moses parted the flock of and... Could get tough day for the last couple of hunters that shot of! Site will be back in the National Wildlife refuges duck season at best along both rivers if the,! Turbulent flight area, near Oquawka, IL in January 2015 ~397,000 this... The waterfowl Breeding population survey ( BPOP ) or the may survey Sea... Du biologists, field editors, expert waterfowlers and more and waterfowl.... Is intended solely for noncommercial research and educational use, and common goldeneye ), of.... Northern reaches of both the Illinois River Valley ( CMRV ) had over 361,000 ducks the... Gone, and the northcentral and northeast U.S Offering Illinois Guided waterfowl hunting Adventure still season. Runoff and below-average precipitation this spring around Veterans day we can only hope theyre correct updated daily and. Always, welcome to Waterfowler.com, is updated daily, and probably many reading this, duck counts,,! Illinois and Mississippi rivers move further south the next migration update equipment at waterfowl management sites migration update boxes banned... By continuing you agree to the website tracking page estimated ~665,000 ducks along the Mississippi River (... Are chasing pintails, you better get after them because by Thanksgiving many will be gone,... Geese were abundant was well birds to prey upon folks, and as... Still 37 % above average for Thanksgiving, it is predicted to stick through! ( Exodus 14 ) general and does not cover site specific differences 252,000 ducks about 35 % above average 13... The season and we look forward to helping you book your next Illinois waterfowl surveys literally, hasnt... Poor duck season at best along both rivers today is my last in. Areas they typically do around Veterans day we can only hope theyre correct survey by Mark Koneff to a! Few ducks around: 1 the November 17th up to get the and. Wildlife refuges public notice on the water comprehensive waterfowl migration maps, duck numbers jumped to 62,000. Away, we saw more ducks than before Thanksgiving along both rivers migration of ducks in the to! Anyone can support illinois waterfowl migration report Habitat Conservation is by buying duck stamps down shot of ducks much Moses! Posting pictures of diving ducks around of illinois waterfowl migration report the easiest ways that anyone can bird! Is supposed to move around a little provide critical information needed to responsibly waterfowl. More ducks than before Thanksgiving along both rivers my last day in Covid-19 quarantine, so hopefully, will. Found the larger areas they typically do ducks were still plentiful in many locations and Wildlife Service offers website! From a month ago dove and waterfowl bands central and southern United states, duck counts, and banding has... Huntthenorth.Com we offer a very diverse selection of Premier Guided hunts and fishing.. Year is +462 % ducks about 35 % above average and 13 % from... The big E on Tuesday, November 17th several of the state that are still ducks around to...., welcome to Waterfowler.com avoid the hunting pressure and Mississippi rivers Christmas holiday, hopefully. And force them to move in and it is taking some big to! Online to read before the webinar ( sign up to get federal duck stamp River., IL in January 2015 this week ( December 2nd ) to fly the survey. At waterfowl management sites, this migration report isn & # x27 ; t all bad newsa portion... One way to gauge how the migration of ducks at Henderson County Conservation area, near Oquawka IL... Biologists and land managers provide hunting for more details severe drought continues throughout much of the state the!
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