Identifying Wetland Availability and Quality For Focal Species of the Illinois Wetlands Campaign W-184-R-1

The purpose of the study was to estimate functional quality of wetlands for focal species of the Illinois Wetlands Campaign, including the following objectives: 1) Estimate wetland habitat quality during spring, summer, and autumn for focal species of the Illinois Wetlands Campaign; 2) Develop a model to predict wetland quality for focal species of the Illinois Wetlands Campaign relative to wetland and landscape characteristics.Illinois Department of Natural Resources Contract Number: RC09-13FWUIUC Subagreement Number: SIU Carbondale 15-01unpublishednot peer reviewedOpe

Wetland Management Strategies that Maximize Marsh Bird Use in the Midwest: Final Performance Report: F14AP00485

We sought to investigate marsh bird occupancy and abundance across a wide range of representative wetlands types, hydrologic regimes, management practices, and former disturbance regimes in Illinois. We hypothesized that characteristics of wetlands that were actively and passively managed for waterfowl would be positively correlated with marsh bird occupancy and abundance in Illinois during the migration and breeding seasons. Our specific objectives were to: 1) compare marsh bird use of wetland impoundments managed for waterfowl across a continuum of management intensities and strategies to predict how impoundment management actions can increase use by both groups; 2) compare marsh bird use of restored and natural wetlands; and 3) determine characteristics of wetlands and the surrounding landscape that influence marsh bird use of restored wetlands. Our results are important to understanding spatiotemporal, hydrological, and vegetative conditions suitable for multi-species management of wetlands. Moreover, our research provided information regarding the effectiveness of conservation actions, particularly wetland restoration in meeting conservation priorities for migrating birds.U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programsunpublishednot peer reviewedOpe

Illinois Waterfowl Surveys and Investigations W-43-R-64 Annual Progress Report FY2017 Period: 1 July 2016 – 30 June 2017

Objectives 1) Inventory abundance and distribution of waterfowl, shorebirds, and other waterbirds (a minimum of 10 species and guilds) during autumn migration at a minimum of 30 sites along and nearby the Illinois and central Mississippi rivers, 2) Estimate waterfowl and other waterbird population sizes (a minimum of 10 species and guilds) during autumn migration using an aerial quadrat survey in the central Illinois River Valley for comparison with aerial inventories (Objective 1), 3) Investigate movement and population ecology of lesser scaup, canvasback, and other diving ducks by trapping and leg-banding a minimum of 1,000 individuals during spring migration along the Illinois and Mississippi rivers, 4) Investigate the ecology of American green-winged teal and gadwall by radio-marking a minimum of 40 individuals of each species during spring migration in and nearby the central Illinois River Valley, 5) Investigate movements and home range size of a minimum of 10 Canada geese during winter in and near the Greater Chicago Metropolitan Area (GCMA) of Illinois, 6) Determine habitat quality of a minimum of 50 wetland and deepwater polygons during spring, summer, and early autumn for migrating dabbling ducks, breeding wetland birds, and migrating shorebirds in Illinois, and 7) 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. 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 conservation planning efforts during the project period as appropriate and requested.Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife & U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Contract Number: RC09-13FWUIUCunpublishednot peer reviewedOpe

Illinois Waterfowl Surveys and Investigations W-43-R-63 Annual Progress Report FY2016 Period: 1 July 2015 – 30 June 2016

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 30 sites along the Illinois and central Mississippi rivers of Illinois, 2) Estimate waterfowl and other waterbird population sizes (a minimum of 10 species and guilds) during autumn migration using an aerial quadrat survey along the central Illinois River for comparison with aerial inventories (Objective 1), 3) Investigate the ecology of up to 50 gadwall and 50 American green-winged teal during spring migration in and near the central Illinois River valley of Illinois, 4) Determine breeding bird use of and nest density in a minimum of 10 moist-soil wetlands managed for waterfowl during summer in central Illinois, 5) Investigate the breeding ecology of a minimum of 50 sandhill cranes during spring and summer in northeastern Illinois consistent with an ongoing research project, 6) Investigate movements and home range size of a minimum of 10 Canada geese during winter in and near the Greater Chicago Metropolitan Area of Illinois, and 7) Determine habitat quality of a minimum of 100 wetlands and deepwater habitats during spring, summer, and early autumn for migrating dabbling ducks, breeding wetland birds, and migrating shorebirds in Illinois.Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife & U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Contract Number: RC09-13FWUIUCunpublishednot peer reviewedOpe

Illinois Waterfowl Surveys and Investigations W-43-R-65-A Annual Progress Report FY2018

Study objectives were: 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 30 sites along and nearby the Illinois and central Mississippi Rivers, 2)Use data from an aerial quadrat survey in the central Illinois River Valley to estimate waterfowl and other waterbird population sizes (≥10 species and guilds) during autumn migration for comparison with aerial inventories (Objective1) and make recommendations for modifications to aerial inventory design and methodology, 3)Contribute to efforts to study population ecology of lesser scaup and canvasback by trapping and leg-banding a minimum of 1,000 individuals during spring migration in the Illinois River Valley, 4)Investigate the ecology of American green-winged teal and gadwall by radio-marking a minimum of 40 individuals of each species during spring migration in and nearby the central Illinois RiverValley,5)Determine habitat quality of ≥50 wetland and deepwater polygons during spring, summer, and early autumn for migrating dabbling ducks, breeding wetland birds, and migrating shorebirds, respectively,in Illinois,and6)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. 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.U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration W-43-R-65-AIllinois Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlifeunpublishednot peer reviewedOpe

Marsh bird occupancy of wetlands managed for waterfowl in the Midwestern USA.

Marsh birds (rallids, bitterns, and grebes) depend on emergent wetlands, and habitat loss and degradation are the primary suspected causes for population declines among many marsh bird species. We evaluated the effect of natural wetland characteristics, wetland management practices, and surrounding landscape characteristics on marsh bird occupancy in Illinois during late spring and early summer 2015-2017. We conducted call-back surveys following the North American Standardized Marsh Bird Survey Protocol three times annually at all sites (2015 n = 49, 2016 n = 57, 2017 n = 55). Across all species and groups, detection probability declined 7.1% ± 2.1 each week during the marsh bird survey period. Wetlands managed for waterfowl (ducks, geese, and swans) had greater occupancy than reference wetlands. Marsh bird occupancy increased with greater wetland complexity, intermediate levels of waterfowl management intensity, greater proportions of surface water inundation, and greater proportions of persistent emergent vegetation cover. Wetland management practices that retain surface water during the growing season, encourage perennial emergent plants (e.g., Typha sp.), and increase wetland complexity could be used to provide habitat suitable for waterfowl and marsh birds

Proximity among protected area networks promotes functional connectivity for wintering waterfowl

Abstract The equilibrium theorem provided a fundamental framework for understanding species’ distributions and movement in fragmented ecosystems. Wetland-dependent avian species are model organisms to test insular predictions within protected area networks because their mobility allows surveillance of isolated patches without landscape barriers. We hypothesized size and isolation would influence functional connectivity of sanctuaries by GPS-marked wintering mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) within a mesocosm protected sanctuary area network. We evaluated functional connectivity and sanctuary use, measured by movements between sanctuaries, using a multistate modeling framework. Proximity drove connectivity, underscoring that patch isolation—not size—influenced connectivity, even for an avian species with no ascertainable landscape resistance or barriers. We also found that sanctuary use increased overwintering survival by reducing harvest mortality. Our test of equilibrium theory predictions demonstrated that isolation of protected sanctuary areas supersedes their size in determining functional connectivity for mallards and access to these areas may have direct fitness consequences. Our findings could refine land acquisition, restoration, and management practices with equal or greater emphasis on adjacency in protected area network design, especially for wetland-dependent migratory gamebirds

Annual Report FY2019, Illinois Waterfowl Surveys and Investigations W-43-R-66

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. 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 30 sites along and nearby the Illinois and central Mississippi rivers, 2) Evaluate postbreeding ecology of wood ducks (Aix sponsa) by radiomarking up to 100 individuals during late summer and autumn in and nearby the central Illinois River Valley, 3) Contribute to efforts to study population ecology of lesser scaup (Aythya affinis) and canvasback (Aythya valisineria) by trapping and leg-banding a minimum of 1,000 individuals during spring migration in the Illinois River Valley, 4) Continue to investigate the ecology of green-winged teal (Anas crecca) and gadwall (Mareca strepera) by radiomarking a minimum of 40 individuals of each species during spring migration in and nearby the central Illinois River Valley, 5) Continue habitat quality evaluations of ≥50 wetland and deepwater polygons during spring, summer, and early autumn for migrating dabbling ducks, breeding wetland birds, and migrating shorebirds, respectively, in Illinois, 6) 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, 7) Investigate movements and home range size of ≥10 Canada geese (Branta canadensis) during winter in and near the Greater Chicago Metropolitan Area (GCMA) of Illinois, 8) Inventory abundance and distribution of shorebird guilds during spring (April–May) and autumn (July–August) migration at ≥20 sites along and nearby the central Illinois River Valley and other areas in central Illinois, 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. 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.IDNR Division of Wildlife Contract Number: RC09-13FWUIUCunpublishednot peer reviewedOpe

Delaying surgery for patients with a previous SARS-CoV-2 infection

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