IL Numbers

[JABIII]

Duck numbers are still above average and Canada goose numbers are still hovering near historic lows, according to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ Wednesday aerial census.

The census showed 122,525 ducks in the region, well above the 10-year average of 101,175.

Mallards, gadwall and other dabblers make up the vast majority of the population, although there are significant ringneck and teal populations at Mermet Lake.

Carlyle Lake is holding 37,500 ducks, followed by Union County 32,000, Rend Lake 16,250, Keck’s Marsh 10,200, Pyramid State Park, 8,350, Crab Orchard 8,200, Horseshoe Lake 3,700, Cache River 3,225, and Mermet Lake 3,100.

In the meantime, just 2,070 Canada geese were counted, less than half the 10-year average of 5,755.

The Du Quoin State Fairgrounds had 1,000 geese, followed by Crab Orchard 275, Pyramid State Park 200, Horseshoe Lake 175, Ten Mile Creek 125, Union County 100, Burning Star Mine 75, Ballard County, Ky. 75, Vandalia Lake 25, Carlyle Lake 10, and Rend Lake 10.

In the meantime, there were 108,000 snow geese, nearly triple the 10-year average of 39,419.

Pyramid State Park has 54,000 snows, Carlyle Lake 19,000, Union County 18,000, Rend Lake 16,000 and Cache River 1,000.

White-front numbers were 13,425, just below the 10-year average of 15,481.

Union County had 6,900, Pyramid State Park 4,500, Horseshoe Lake 875, Rend Lake 475, Cache River 350 and Burning Star Mine 325.

Trumpeter swan numbers dropped to 68, 42 at Burning Star Mine, 11 at Campbell Pond, eight at Carlyle Lake and seven at Horseshoe Lake.

— Les Winkeler

[Duck Tape]

I heard there was a record for the lack of snowfall out west.

[PBiz]

I'm glad I'm not headed back to Horseshoe this year..