1000's of waterfowl inundate Illinois River Valley (video)
1000's of waterfowl inundate Illinois River Valley (video)
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gT9mieYWymg[/ame]
HAVANA — When the snow geese lift off Thompson Lake, there are so many it can be hard to see through them.
But the snow geese are just part of the spring migration show playing now in the Illinois River Valley, with habitat conditions, water levels and the timing of migration coinciding perfectly.
All kinds of ducks and geese have been pouring in for the past 10 days to two weeks.
Lee Albright, manager of the Illinois River National Wildlife and Fish Refuges near Havana said seeing the waterfowl arrive has been a gratifying experience.
Three wet years in a row have made it hard for managers to control water levels and create optimum habitat.
Now that everything is working just as it should, Albright doesn’t want to leave.
“I’ve had a hard time staying away from here, because there have been so many birds to look at,” he said.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and The Nature Conservancy manage thousands of adjacent acres on both sides of Illinois 78/97 in Fulton County.
The Fish and Wildlife Service manages the Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge, and The Nature Conservancy has the Emiquon Preserve.
Besides snow geese, there are many species of ducks — brightly attired in their breeding plumage.
A family of trumpeter swans spent most of Wednesday feeding at the edge of a wetland full of mallards and assorted diving ducks.
The number of geese stopping over is hard to pin down.
“People have been calling our office looking for a number,” said Jason Beverlin of The Nature Conservancy. “I just say, ‘I really have no idea.’
Waterfowl scientist Chris Hine of the Illinois Natural History Survey finally hung a number on the snow geese this past week. Hine’s survey turned up 101,500 snow geese.
He also tallied 15 species of ducks, two species of swans, including 72 trumpeters, and about 1,500 Canada and greater white-fronted geese.
Birds are pairing up and feeding to build up strength for the remainder of migration and the breeding season to come.
“This habitat is really important for them this time of year,” said waterfowl scientist Randy Smith of the Illinois Natural History Survey. “Then we can send those ducks up north in excellent condition.”
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