Waterfowl

The backwater lakes and wetlands of the Illinois River provide abundant food for waterfowl and therefore is one of the major flyways for migratory species. Historic accounts and Figure 68 provide a graphic image of the abundance of a wide range of bird species. In 1893, the following is written about Thompson Lake:

The noise and fuss of the waterfowl we could plainly hear. Going out where we could have an unobstructed view we were surprised at the great numbers of waterfowl. There were simply square acres of the lake’s surface, covered with ducks, geese and brant. [A disturbance by Strode] caused thousands of ducks and geese to take to the wing; the air was black in every direction with great circling flocks. (Havera 2002).

Figure 68: Migratory Waterfowl (USGS)

As settlers arrive in the Illinois River valley, they find “countless thousands of waterfowl which lingered to rest and feed during their spring and fall migrations.” “For many years, during this early period of development of Illinois, wildfowl were so plentiful that they were often a nuisance to settlers.” (USFWS 1963).