Ultralight used to encourage crane migration

In the first phase of an ambitious effort to re-establish a migratory population of endangered whooping cranes in the east, an ultralight aircraft took off from a national wildlife refuge in Wisconsin in October, leading a flock of sandhill cranes on an experimental migration that could pave the way for similar flights with whooping cranes in the near future.

The 13 sandhill crane chicks have been exposed to aircraft noise by researchers since hatching and reared in extreme isolation from humans at Necedah National Wildlife Refuge in Wisconsin. After undergoing months of specialized handling designed to get them accustomed to following the ultralight aircraft, the birds left on a journey through seven states—including Illinois—that will take them to their wintering grounds in Florida.

If the migration study is successful and the birds complete the journey to Florida and return on their own to Wisconsin in the spring of 2001, the same training procedures and route will be used with whooping crane chicks as part of the second phase of the study. If all goes as planned and necessary approvals are obtained from the flyway councils, states and other involved agencies, the study could eventually lead to the re-establishment of a migratory population of whooping cranes in the eastern United States.

"With just over 400 whooping cranes in existence, and with only one migratory flock in the wild, the establishment of a second migratory flock is vitally important to the survival and recovery of one of North America's most endangered species and the world's most endangered crane. The steps we take this fall with sandhill cranes could lay the foundation for the return of a whooping crane migration to the East," said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Jamie Rappaport dark.

The migration followed the established eastern sandhill crane migration route, passing through Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia before arriving in central Florida. The migration covered from 50 to 70 miles per day on days when weather conditions permitted flight. Ultralight aircraft was used because it flies at low altitudes and at speeds slow enough to lead migrating birds.

Reliance on humans jeopardizes the ability of any wild animal to survive on its own, and whooping cranes are especially vulnerable because of their small population. In order to test and establish methods that can be used with whooping cranes, every effort has been made to restrict the sandhill cranes' contact with humans in order to prevent the birds from becoming too tame and relying on human care for their survival. The sandhill cranes have been raised by humans in costumes that disguise the human form, using mechanical hand puppets designed to look like adult sandhill cranes. The birds have never seen the pilots of the ultralights out of costume. These restrictions on human contact will continue during the birds' migration and with the whooping cranes in the near future.

Whooping cranes were probably always rare, with a population estimated at 500 to 700 individuals in 1870. Nonetheless, they ranged across North America from Utah to the Atlantic Coast, breeding in central Canada and the northern U.S. and wintering from the Carolinas to Texas. As a consequence of unregulated hunting and specimen collection, human disturbance, and conversion of their primary nesting habitat to hay, pastureland and grain production, the whooping crane population faced extinction by 1941, with only 21 birds remaining.

Today, after decades of captive breeding and the 1993 reintroduction of a nonmigratory population in central Florida, there are 411 whooping cranes in North America, with 266 of those birds in the wild. Of these, there is only one remaining migratory flock of 187 whooping cranes in the wild, migrating between Wood Buffalo National Park, Northwest Territories, Canada and Aransas National Wildlife Refuge in south Texas.

The Endangered Species Act recovery plan for the whooping crane requires that a second flock of migratory birds be established, because the Texas flock remains vulnerable to oil spills, disease outbreaks, declining food resources on their wintering grounds, and collisions with power lines.

21  December 2000

Daily drawings for controlled pheasant areas

Hunters can access several controlled pheasant hunting areas by checking in by the prescribed time at a site's hunter check station. Daily drawing sites, check in times, season dates and access fees are listed below:

Johnson Sauk Trail State Park (Henry Co.): Check in by 8:30 a.m., with hunting through Jan. 7. Site closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Fee is $15 per day.

Kankakee River State Park (Kankakee Co.): Check in by 8:30 a.m., with hunting through Jan. 7. Site closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Fee is $15 per day.

Richland County Area: Check in by 8 a.m. through Jan. 14. Site closed most Mondays and Tuesdays, though special hunts may be offered on some Mondays and Tuesdays. Fee is $16 for two-bird permit; $23 for three-bird permit; and $29.50 for four-bird permit.

Washington County Conservation Area (Washington Co.): Check in by 8 a.m., with hunting through Jan. 14. Site closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Fee is $15 per day.

Hunting hours at all locations are 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. If necessary, a drawing is conducted immediately after check-in-time to fill the hunter quota. Pheasants of either sex may be harvested.

Hunting opportunities are available for physically challenged hunters with Standing Vehicle Permits at Kankakee River State Park. A special vehicle is available to assist with the hunt. Physically challenged hunters may apply to the DNR Office of Law Enforcement for a Standing Vehicle Permit by phoning (217) 782-6431. They should contact the Kankakee River State Park site office by phoning (815) 933-1383 at least two days prior to the hunt to arrange for use of the special vehicle. Hunting hours are 12:30 p.m.- 4 p.m., with check in at the site office between 11 a.m.- noon.

Contact the sites for more information: Johnson Sauk Trail State Park (309) 853-5589; Kankakee River State Park (815) 933-1383; Richland Co. Controlled Pheasant Hunting Area (618) 863-2220; and Washington County Conservation Area (618) 327-3137.

Ice Fishing Derby set for January

Outdoor writer Mike Jackson will host his Annual Family Ice Fishing Derby Jan. 13-14 at Channel Lake in Antioch. There is a $10 entry fee that covers both days of fishing. Prizes are given for the heaviest 25 bluegill by an angler, plus prizes for the heaviest white bass, crappie, bluegill, walleye, catfish, pike, carp and yellow bass. Fishing is 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.

Prizes include cash, tackle, tackle boxes, custom rods, guide trips, lures, gift certificates and rods and reels.

In the event of unsafe ice conditions, the tournament will be a shore fishing event for the same species of fish.

Derby headquarters is Mentone's Restaurant at the Channel Lake bridge. Call (847) 577-1915 for more information.

Put some class into your life

The Department of Natural Resources administers four mandatory safety education programs for young hunters, trappers, boaters and snowmobilers. Although designed for youths, the courses are recommended for everyone wanting to keep up on safety practices. For information about safety education classes in your area, call 1-800-832-2599. Hearing-impaired individuals can call the Department's TTY number, (217) 782-9175.

Update on Illinois' big trees

Since our story on the Illinois Registry of Big Trees appeared in the November issue of OutdoorIllinois, several things have changed.

22   OutdoorIllinois

DNR Deputy Director Richard Mottershaw (left) was presented with the Illinois Mining Institute Lifetime Achievement Award for his more than 30 years of service to the Illinois mining industry. Mottershaw, who lives in Carlinville, previously served as director of the office of Mines and Minerals and was a member of the Illinois State Mining Board for nearly 20 years. Presenting the award was Office of Mines and Minerals Director Kim Underwood. (Photo by Art Rice.)

We stated in the story that Guy Sternberg held the title for the most record trees, having been the nominator of 32 of which 12 are still current champions. He actually had nominated 36 record trees. And since our story, he has nominated eight new champion trees—runcinata oak, bush's oak, black haw, dwarf hackberry, black hickory, chestnut oak, bigtooth aspen and catalpa.

We also mentioned that Wayne Gillespie and the Citizens Committee to Save the Cache River had eight of the current champions. We failed to notice that Palmyra's Larry Mahan had 11 records to his credit. We left out James Ream, too, who also had nominated eight of the current champions.

ICF match fund grants announced

The Illinois Conservation Foundation has established its first grant program. Grants of up to $10,000 each will be awarded to projects that will match the ICF amount. Grants can be made to projects to preserve and/or enhance the state's natural resources, or to support ecological, educational or recreational programs.

Grant applications are due Feb. 1. Proposals are required to submit a line item budget showing total cost of the project to be funded, as well as other funding sources. Applications then will be reviewed by the ICF Board of Directors and awards will be announced in July. Up to $100,000 is available during the first grant cycle.

Guidelines for obtaining a grant are available by calling Shannon Duffy at (312) 814-7237.

New waterfowl rest area at Carlyle Lake

The Department of Natural Resources has established a new waterfowl rest area at the Carlyle Lake Wildlife Management Area in Fayette County. The area is located at the north end of Carlyle Lake, just south of subimpoundments 1 through 4.

Spring 2001 wild turkey hunting permit applicants may apply to hunt at Horseshoe Lake State Park, Madison County. One hunter will be allowed during each of the four seasons. This is the first year firearm spring wild turkey hunting will be allowed at the park. Applicants must apply specifically for this site on their statewide permit application. Permittees will need to contact the site office (618) 931-0270 to find out what areas of the site will be available for wild turkey hunting. Spring turkey applications are not yet available.

The rest area boundary includes all public land and water south and east of the Kaskaskia River, extending east to the Potoka cut dredge ditch, then south to a buoy line beginning north of the Patoka Boat Access Area, then continuing west toward the Tamalco Boat Access Areas, ending at the Kaskaskia River channel. The Patoka cut dredge ditch and the Kaskaskia River will be open to hunting except in the designated and marked eagle nest protection zone located partially in the river and partially in subimpoundment No. 4. The remainder of the former waterfowl rest area in subimpoundment No. 4 will be open to hunting during the scheduled waterfowl hunting seasons.

The new waterfowl rest area boundary is posted with signs and buoys. Waterfowl rest area information will also be available at Carlyle Lake boat access areas. No trespassing is allowed upon the waterfowl rest area through Jan. 31, the end of the Canada goose hunting season. For further information, call the Carlyle Wildlife Management Area site headquarters at (618) 425-3533.

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