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C· ~ le Volume 13 MARCH, 1954 Number 3 in 1y of li· liD THE BLUE GEESE FLY NORTH ~g ---.* ·• li· * * * * * * * By J ohn :\la dson of FISHERIES PROGRAM J•: tl ou •atiun '"'"i..,t n nt IS· An old blue goose raised his head FOR 1954 from a meal of three-square grass ;o· and stretched his wmgs in the tse By Kenneth l\1. l\ladden warm Louisiana sun. Nearby, oth , u tlerinte nde nt of F i-. h e rle!> he ers of his kind were launching tat Like Gaul, Iowa's fisheries pro themselves mto the a1r, and the ln- gram is divided into 3 parts. Na gander r ose to join them. For ler tural and man-made factors in nearly an hour they wheeled to ?St I owa have developed three broad gether above the wet pastures of rs, fishing areas in the slate: The patlle des ozcs before they settled his northwest or natural lake area, the down agam to resume their feed 1a· southern and central area contain ing. ing artificial lakes, ctly reservoirs, A restlessness had been growing nts and turbid catfish streams, and the among them and more and more in northeastern area of clear trout, they lefl on short flights, each at smallmoulh bass and catfish longer than the one before. It was tes streams. early the last day of February, and to Each of the areas calls for a songbirds were buildmg nests and er· particular type of fisheries man the days were becoming longer and un· agement. The ConservatiOn Com hotter. Still the geese remained, aiD m ission's Fisheries program for as 1f they knew that the1r distant ed. 1954 is destgned to mcrease game nesting grounds were bound by tbe fishing by supplementing favorable winter, and that blizzards still ag· natural conditions in these 3 areas. raged on Baffin I sland. Then, one day in early March, Iowa's rich shallow lakes and the blue goose left the marshes of adjoining marshes are capable of the Sabine Refuge and joined a producing tremendous annual fish H large band of geese near the Bayou cr ops. The 30 permanent rough Constance. Two other huge Louis fish traps and seasonal seining i"as tana flocks were also formmg, one have but one purpose to reduce above the flats east of the Missis daY competition for game fish so that stppi's mouth and another near not· they will grow faster, bigger and March Island; the Chenier du ,th make better fishi ng. Ti[JI'C. l of Last year over 1,600,000 pounds These three great flocks, with of "weed" fish were removed and a n honor guard of snow geese, rose ~ow if conditions are favorable we ex a thousand feel above the L ouisi :laY. pect a similar removal in 1954. ana Udal marshes and turned into o!XI· Coordinated with rough fish con the north. They settfed to a pace ards trol, northern pike fry are stocked Jim sh.,rm•m )lit ~'""to of less than 50 miles an hour, but in sloughs, adjacent to the lakes, " An old blue goose raised his head from a meal of three-square grass a nd stret ched their flight was steady and in a ered where they can grow with less his wings in the warm Louisiana sun." direct line across the face of a con- hiiXI competition from undesirable spe cies. Later they are allowed to PHEASANT COUNTS AND DEWFALL tin;~~~ were joined by sparkling e :;tl return to the lake. Adult nor thern flocks of lesser snow geese, swmg .,. bY pike removed from the rough fish B y E ugene D. J{longhm of rises or falls in our pheasant ing up from their wintering "the traps also are placed in the slough I o" a CoO}le r a tivt- \\ iltllife R e-.enrcb population grounds on the gulf coast of Texas }11.111· luit areas. Such northern pike man D e 1•arhue n t o t Zoo In ~) and Since 1936, the fall roadside cen-1 and western Louisiana E n t oueol o;;:; ~ tgtlll agement has demonstrated that sus has been a major method of 1 Up the great chute of the Mis I Iona "'tatt- C oll tc•~o;"..- )eg:. this valuable predator spectes can determining the relatiYe number of sissipp1 Valley the birds flew, their JlllP· be increased EYcry suitable area Research workers in Palestmc birds that Iowa's pheasant hunters flocks overtaking early pintails, • tJe• will be used for Lhts pur pose, which probably never dreamed that thetr will have to shoot at on opening mallards and a few Canada geese. ,18nd will help to control species balance discoveries might prove useful in day, and how many days they can Through western Arkansas they 0J;en in the parent lake as well as pro determining the year-to-year sta shoot at them. However, the num- flew, continuing to fly night and viding more recreation for the tus of Iowa's ring-necked pheas bcr of birds seen on the roadside day. They made their way over angler. ants. However, rccC'nl slu Iowa Conservationist and pounng the powder over it that. m ordet to sec what you hit zle-loadmg t·ifles ts a fascinating - unttl the shot \\'as completely cov you must drop do\>.n and peer un- game Boone Nell .., Rcpllblican. P ~ bh hed Month}) by thE' ered I soon discovere.>d that this der the smoke. lOW A CONSERVATION COMMISSION might produce a k1ck hke that of East 7th and Court -Des Moines, Iowa Briefly these are the steps nec MINNE ESTEMA FISHING (No Rights Reserved) a Missouri mule or 1t might feel essary in fi1 mg a round of shot ACCESS like the slap or a canary's wmg. WM. S. BEARDSlEY, Govmnor of Iowa First. the powder is measured and BR UCE STILES. Dn ector all depending upon whether the poured down the bm e. Then the The State Con:o;ervation Com JAM ES R. HARLAN, Ed1tor palm \\,ts flat ot cupped ball 1s wrappNl in a piece of cloth, mission has approved purchase of JOHN MADSO N. Sped al Writer A method wh1ch comN; fat lt1mmed. and forced down through 160 aeres of Benton County land in "· • ~Ff\ "I a closet to perfl'c tion 1 to usc one the mu?.zle until gently scaled on 1 an area known as Minne Estema MEM BERS OF THE COMMISSION g1 ain of powdet fot each cahbre the powder charge Next if the about six miles no1 th of Vmton, 1 ; -I ('J a n r ·r t [ 0 !qr of ball Fo1 mstan<.e, a .58 ball gun IS a percussion rifle, the mpple I for $3,000.• tccordmg to Dr. D. T. I .., - D-. . . - ·· .. a n J n C' A DIN :ES. .. Emm!'t burq \\ ould requite ~~ grams of powder. is primed and a cap slipped ovet Smith of Vinton, President of the GE >RGE M . FOSTER .. Ottumwa And. \\hen I sty powder, I mean it. The rifle is now read} to be Red Ccd 11 Chapter of the Izaak FLOYD S PEARSON ...... Docoral. black powder. not the modern t.'BS. EMMI.:TT HANNAN .....Cou n c:al Blu ffs fired Walton L eague. - . [ k 1 -> fast-burning smolwl£>ss vm ietieR l\Iuzzlcloadmg rifles serve a mul- Smith said the area will guar- Smcc smokeless powder burns trple pm pose They are like the I an tee public access to the Cedar· CIRCULA TlON THIS ISSUE 53.000 much faster than black powder an canoe. a link with the past which R1ver m the north Benton County .S 11 r ~:: " rat 10' I year Three years S 1.00 eqlllvalcnt amount of it creates almo.st evet yone likes to enjoy in area and will likely be used as a Ente r!' a t th£> more b1·each pressut £> as it i!'i one \>.ay or a nother. Also they wtldhfe area by the state post offaco n u Hs Mume s, l u wu, September fired The steel in these old guns teach the fundamentals of hand- The Izaak Walton group has 22. 1947, u ndN tho Act o f March 24, Hll 2 1s much softer than that used in loading been active m attempting to get Subscnph.;>n o; r<'C<' tve d a t Con se rvation Corr mtssaon East S VC'nth Stront and Court modern nfles consequcnlly they P10bably the most important the state board to purchase the Av£>nue , Des Moan£' 'l, Iow a Send cash <.an't stand a~ he.tvy a load A lesson that these old weapons land. The group had earlier acted chock or money ordPT. smokelc.-;s powder charge equal to leach is to make one shot and only to halt a request that the recre the co1 rect black powder locld not one shot do the job. Too often, ational area be closed to the pub MUZZLE LOADERS only could blO\\ the rifle apart but users of automatic arms. and I am lie. also could seriously harm the one of them, find themselves rely- The Minnc Estcma area mcludes Wall When I first made inqUincs rc shooter ing on the second and th1rd shots about a quarter of a mile of scenic g trding the proper charge to use \Vben a charge of black powder rather than putlrng everything shoreline along the Cedar River. in my muzzleloading 1 ifle, I was goes off, a belch of flame and a into one accurate discharge. The propPrty is owned by Miss told the age-old method of placing cloud of smoke 1s eJected from the Whatever motrvates its use, Esther Kn:rpp of Vinton. Vinton the ball in the palm of the hand muzzle. The smoke is so thick there IS no doubt- shooting muz- Times A AI several liberahzed changes twice that of the darly catch limit I Fishermen are reminded that 1954 FISHING Among these changes are the ad- This will permit limit catches fm 1953-5-1 fishmg licenses expire St~ re~~ REGULATIONS drl10n of trout and perch to the two consecutive days before the March 31 Iowa fishing licenses enn The Slate Conservation Commis "contmuous open season" list and possess1on limrt is reached, permrt- are required of all males 16 years thai sion has announced the 1951 Iowa the setting of several catch limits l tmg week-end anglers to make the of age and over lo\>.a fishmg h P. fi r ont 111\IUUS ~ont• ~niH' \onl' Same .\S inland waters Th1 !lluanows lob I rogs (Exrq•t Bullfrogs) \1 .• ~ 12-\'ov. :so 4 elM R do1.. \nu ~ fi\ Bullfrogs May 12-~0\', :!0 I dot t doz. ~IIIH' Sanae as inland watrrs Ill e 1 ( Ilana C'atcslkiana 11'ate1 \\allt·}c ( Yrlln" Plko :.t.w II).. I cb. 15 5 ~ 01ac S.unc a.s mlan,J water.; fishe, ,.,,.,.pt continuous o()('u l'•·rch) or Han~• r able sc·;~.on _I_ I_ lhro~ c r.IJ>fUP, Y• 'lo" Bass, \\ nr- Contmuous 15 ao Saro e as •nland "atPrs had! rnnuth B.• '!S, Sunfish. llhw· 1011, l'rrt·h Ill! '\ tnt•• or :S1IHr Bass \Ia} 15-Feh. 15 15 30 -1 Sanw as miami waters r'~l't contmunus Of't'n :.hy 15-Fcb. 15 8 Nonr !?arne as inland waters cxctpt confutuou, open 6<'aSOD -Rmailmout- -- h lla.>s May :10-Fcb. 15 10 Same a5 inland waters rxc·t•pt ~cason May 2- J.r!.. 15 -I lrl(tml'utlo ll.ass !\loiy .iO-Fth. IIi 5 IU w• I'a me as inl.uul "~te111 t·xrc'pt ~cason May 2- hh. 15 ---- - HO<'k Bass :.t..y Ju. Feb. 1.5 15 JO ~'\one S.1mt• as inland waters excert contmuous open 1wason HOt'k Sturgi'On, Paddh r!Sb Au~ . 1-\o,·. :u: 15 '• ll rs Same tiS inland wa!('f'S :l.uul SturgtOn I ,\ uR. 1· \0\ :Ill IS 311 I It , &m1e as inl.arul water • Not to exceed mo re than fifty (50) fish of all kinds m the aggregate, except that th1s aggrega te posscssio_n .hmlt shall not apply to fish named in this table on which For the fi rst time ye llow perch a nd t rout have been a dded t o the continuous open there is no daily catch hmtt. season list , IOWA CONSERVATIONIST Page 19 nating • lea 11. THE PHEASANTS' WARDENS' TALES FRIEND lNG While flying patrol near Avoca during deer season, Commission Pictured below is a mounted Pilot Frank H eidelbauer noticed pheasant flushing bar that was a hunter crouching in a fence cor Com made by the men at Northern Nat lase of ner near a road intersection. The ural's booster station, according to hunter was watching a deer stand andm plans fum1shed by the Iowa Con ~sterna ing in an open field about five hun servation Commission. The flush dred yards away. {in ton, ing bar, cut down according to D. T. scale, is mounted on a man1ature As Frank flew low over the of the tractor furnished by Soll Imple area, he noticed a herd of 32 deer, Izaak ment Company. The tractor and running single file, approaching flusher are being shown in the over some low hills behind the guar Times window now. hunter. The first inkling that the Cedar nimrod had of the herd was when The flusher, mounted on a farm ::Ounty a deer leaped over the fence and et·'s tractor at mowing lime, is de landed about five feet away from dasa signed to arouse the pheasant be fore they are crippled or killed by 1p has the razor-hke cutting bar of the to get mowet The weights, hung on ca se the bles, wtll drag through or htt down r acted on the hay or grass being cut and recre· in most cases flush out the nesting te pub· pheasant that will otherwise sit all the tighter if it is frightened by the Frank Starr Photo. 1cludes Wi! lleyes tha t ma ke Storm La ke filmous. Shorty La wra nce d isplays 12 pound, 12 ounce noise of the approaching tractor · scenic a nd 10 pound w int er cau!Jht w a ll eyes. * • and mower. River. * ... * * * Dr. Robert Potter 'The hope of the commission, of him. As the startled hunter swung •Y ~ss STORM LAKE ICE Storm L ake, Iowa the men at Northern that built the on the deer with hiS gun he was -f1111011 89 walleyes during winter fishing ANGLING BOOMED january 4-Sl/2 pound walleye, also one model, and of all who are con distracted by a second deer leap 6~4 pounds cerned by the declining number of ing the fence behind him. He january 7-91/2 pound walleye Although ice fishing acllvity on Cleo and Attlee Hays pheasants, is that farmers will con swung on the second deer, changed d that Storm Lake, Iowa his mind, and fired at the first, Storm Lake has been mcreasing in 75 walleyes, largest 7 1-'a pounds taken in struct one of the simply made de expire recent years, it is still low consid january vices and mount it on their trac which was now about thirty yards Pete Kruse, M arathon, I owa 1censes ering the big fish and good fishing Eppo Kruse, Marathon, Iowa tor at haying time. away. While he was domg this the 5 years that's been going on there. john Kruse, Marathon, Iowa During the time the model has herd, each deer following the one li· 80 walleyes, largest 5 pounds ounces hing Frank ~Starr, Consenation Of Elwood Spooner 13 been at the Times office no farmer before him over the fence, was females ficer for Cherokee and Buena Vista Storm Lake, I owa has ever discussed it with the passing nearly within arms length ly January 4-10 pounds S ounce walleye for counties, writes that the winter 131 walleyes writer without commenting on the of the hunter. fishing in Storm Lake was as good Clayton Daniels appalling number of pheasant, es He fired three times, (evidently j anuary 7-101'2 pound walleye • or better than that in the fall, and Herb Heim pecially hens, that are murdered by from a plugged gun), and missed. that more lunker walleyes were Sac City, I owa the fast-moving mower bar. 'There The deer continued to leap almost 10Yz pound walleye and 9 pound walleye taken from under the ice than at Shorty Lawrance has never been anything the farm over him, and he emptied his mag a ny other time last year. Storm Lake, Iowa er could do, however, unlil a azine three times at the fleeing February 9-12 pound 12 ounce walleye flusher was devised. This one if; Fishing did not get underway and 10 pound walleye animals. Then, as I<'rank still Frank Spooner quite simply made and blucpt·ints watched from above, the last of until January, for dangerous ice February 18-7Yz pound walleye conditions kept ice fishermen from are available at the pipeline the 32 deer disappeared over the booster station and at the Times horizon. the major walleye areas of the Shootable surpluses of prairie office. Not a great deal of material lake. During January the west end chickens are found today in the would be required and it could be The hunter carefully leaned his of the lake produced the best pike north and west, beyond the range buill in the average farm shop m shotgun in the fence corner, fishing, possibly because of the at where these birds were first found a short time this winter. If a g reat stepped a few feet out into the tractton of many small fish in the ~y t~ ~ early s~~tler s. The ~th~r many were made for use this sum- field, took h1s cap from his head mlet channnel. pratne grouse,. the sharpt~ tl_, IS mer tt should make an appreciable and slammed it into the ground as The best fishing hours seemed found today ~lthm _the ong1nal difference in the number of pheas hard as he could to be from 5 p. m. until midmght known boundanes of its early dayJ ants, come November 11. Paullilla m five feet of water, although some range.- E.S. Times. Floyd Morley, veteran· conserva- nice catches were taken in deeper * * * * * * tion officer of Worth and Winne- water during the day. Most of the bago, almost arrested a cake last fishermen used chubs when ~vail fall. able, and used the chubs hooked Floyd was on pheasant patrol through the lips. Some anglers near the little town of Ral{e when had good luck using two or more minnows on a hook. he saw a slow-moving car cross the Minnesota line and drive down According to Starr, there was a a side road. Thinking it was a total of 35 fishing shacks on the road bunter, Floyd followed far tee of Storm Lake with the rest behind to keep the driver from of the anglers watching their hnes seeing his official plates. from cars. The car fishermen con sistently brought in better catches than those in fishing shacks. During February the fishing ac tivity shifted to the east end of the lake and Schaller's Point. Many fme catches were brought in from that area during the day, but Schaller s Point was best at mght when walleyes moved mto shallow The other car kept to side roads, water. n where it would slow down to five Starr also reported several rec miles per hour in low spots and ords of catches, among which were ' ' ' speed up on the better roads P::tulHna l'n I( the largest Storm Lal I at the slightest dC'lny People wall< I by leaving that local train and down the streets with long strides taking an express down here, we and intl•nt faces. I·~xcept where sav<>cl five and one-half minutes'. thl'l P arc .strict ordinances, men " 'Five and one-half minutes, <>h' and women risk life and hmb cross- inquired the Korean gentleman mg agumst traffic hghls, dodging gently. 'Five and one-half minutes hurtling motor cars a ncl gn:ing a now just what are you going visitor only one emotion expecta- to do with them?' lion of an early are faced with the nC< d to get especially obvtous in the b1g cities. J 1m Sherm n rhuto Prey • ~rs · J youngsters off the1r scats and onto Motor cars are driven too rapidly ''Of course, we a dults need to go fi s h i n ~, too. The shift in a few generations from a " physical" to a " mental' way of life Is taking Its toll." an their feet." Stret•tcars clang and buses honk 1! ''~& - IOWA CONSERVATIONIST Page 21 and SPORTSMENS CLUBS dollars spent for better fishing and we bunting in the area, plus fine co GROW UP operation w1th the state conserva tion department. eh nan Iowa sportsmen's clubs, a prod The local chapte1 of the Iowa ~tes uct of the Twentieth Century, and Coon Hunter's association always ling of modern fish and game envu·on bas its shoulder to the wheel, for ment, may be said to have grown merly stockmg rabbits, staging fox hunts, releasmg coon to the .hat up wild, working for better condi eri· Those clubs which have sur tions in the fur-bearing division " VIVed to the present day, are here of things. The Ike Waltons, a re to stay, and they are able to jus ish· vived group from an old chapter, ffied tify their existence. Time was, prcsenlly make things hum with the and nol too many years ago, Lhat their encry. A broad multiflora rves a sportsmen's group was organized planting progl'am, with assistance tter chiefly for one purpose, namely, lo farmers, is one of the strong COD· Lo chisel something out of the planks in the program of the Dav ntal slale conservation department. enport chapter. tter The clubs in existence today are The Donahue group, ch1efly res a far cry from those in being at idents of that area worked on an the Lurn of the century. Today extensive pheasant stocking pro '{ groups work with the State Con gram for years, and many of the servation Department instead of members of this club residing on poly agamst it. The present outlook is farms have gone into a multiflora lard the long-range one. Not bow much program for the pheasants, quail " The skunk which has a one·track mind signals w ith his tail. If he whirls his hind ssee quarters, elevates his t ail and st amps his feet, look out.'' can be gained for today, but how and rabb1ts. :;ee· * • • ~ * ~ good will hunting and fishing be All of these groups have but one and ANIMAL TA ILS tail on a Virginia deer snaps up tomorrow, and in the years ahead. goal m mind, to build a better out Port ward and flashes like a signal flag In Scott County we are fortu doors on whtch the members de li'' By David H. Thompson as the animal bounds away in nate m having a number of strong pend for recreation A most com And alarm. Cattle- like horses, asses sportsmen's groups. The veteran mendable undertakmg and suffi Roberts Mann and zebras- use their long plumed Scott County Sportsmen's Associ cient reason for cxistence.-Dat:en tails to accurately dislodge a biting alwn has a record of thousands of port Democrat. aiel<· Many animals, deprived of a tail, fly but playful calves, or a slam indi· would appear as strange as a man peding herd of steers, hold their can without cars. Some would be help- tails rigidly aloft when running at only Lhe stump of its trademark. , This is it. Forest Preserve Dis s in less or greally handicapped be- full speed-a comical sighl. Tales, like tails, have an end. tnct Cook Oonnty BHlletin. airie cause, while lhe. tail may seem The skunk, which has a one- * * * * * * * * * 1tion merely ornamental, it usually bas track mind, signals with his tail. :here one or more important uses. On )Si>C the other hand, for reasons bard If he whirls his hindquarters to- ward you, elevates that bushy tail to explain, many other kinds of ani- and stamps his front feet, back ~s~~~s~at:~ls~e~~d s~~~~ ~~~~r~not~~ away pronto, because be's ready to al all. accurately shoot a fine spray, from A man bas no tail, although be two glands at the base of the tail. has a suggestion of one at the end that will blind you and make you of his spine, and the same is true unfit for human society. The peace of the gibbons and the great apes- ful porcupine backs inlo battle, chimpanzee, gorilla and orangutan. lashing its tail like a medieval Manx cats from the Isle of Man, mace and drh·ing the barbed loose and the Schipperke a Belgian ly-attached quills into the face or breed of dog have no tails at all. body of its attacker. The possum's Although they hve m trees. like long muscular naked ta1l is pre monl southland, and seck safety for then DRIED VENISON nests and eggs in the tundra But I • 1 11 ... these are only conJ<'Cturcs, anti no The haunch of the deer 1s most • - .: man knows the truth. suitable for drying and curmg, I l • If these are the reasons will} they which 1s recommended fot old, fly north. what causes the b1rds lo heavy bucks ... . -., '. fly? Perhaps it is the lengthenmg Remo' e the ham and separate it ' .. • of days and light cond1tlons. It is into "inside" and "outside" rounds . -~ .. known that an inct case in datly and "round tips" by cutting along light h<'lps develop lh<' sex organs the muscle seams, thus separatmg of mtgrnnl b1r . ~ this den•lopment. but the exHetse Cure these muscll'S of the round •• ... ,.... , .. . made possible by longer days Re- by rubbing With a mixture of three .. member the trial flights of the blue parts salt and one part granulatell .. : . goose on h1s wintenng grounds? sugar for three consecutive limes ...... But the most baffimg problem is at three- to five-day intervals (de this once spurred to lea,-e the1r pending on the tim<' required for • wintering grounds, how do the the meal to absorb the cure ) birds find their way? Place the rubbed meat on a table Some men simply altnbute 1l to or shelf in a cool cellar during the> nature However, nature would be curing process, and at the end of the source of mslinct. and not the 1 four weeks brush off any remain mechanism of mstmct \Vhat is the mg salt and bang the meat in a mechanism that guides these un- smokehouse and smoke it for three J lm ~hermon l"hut.o erring fl1ghts lo the Foxe Basu1, days. II1ckory or apple woocl Flocks of a hundred thousand blue a nd snow geese are not uncommon on the Missouri "The mor Rev er bottoms. The bird s feed on w ast e com left by mechanica l corn pickers J ames Bay and Pomt Barrow? makes a good smolH'. Hang smoked * Many physicists and zoologtsts sus- , venison in a dry place for a month • Bl ue Geese •. . dra of Baffin and Southampton Is pect that the mner ears of btrds or more to dry, then slice the same lands They nested there in the are sens1tlve to the magnetic hnes as dried beef.- PcniiB11l1'0nia Btatc (Continued from page 17 chilling rams of MHl-Juoe, a hllle By the middle of March lhe1r of force sent out by the magnetic College. · more than three months since lhClr poles. They theonze, and have _ _ _ _ momentum was checked, for they departure from Bayou Constance, some ev1dence to back them up, could fly no faster than the sea 2,600 miles to the south that migratory birds have a sense Each kind of bird has a peculiar sons They had left LOUISiana 10 flight that identifies the species. of compass direction. summer, flown through spring, and The greater mass of snow geese Upland plover flight is descnbcd as they reached southern Iowa had split off from the blues and headed Another theory IS that young birds are taught the old migratwn as, "flying with the end of his caught up with the last of winter. "beyond the north wmd" to lbe wings" Wing tips of large birds arctic coast of Canada, some with routes by adult btrds. But if lh1s They rested there, the vanguards in 15 of the North Pole. Like the is true, how does one account for such as vultures will bend visibly of spring, and the word of the1r the fact that some old and young upward on the downbeat of the arri\ al went out over the state In blue geese they nested in tundra wing And the vulture may be in a deserted land more water than birds m1grate at different times? southwestern Iowa the vast flocks 1deotificll at great distances by the ear th. Nor can migratory tnstmcts be laid of geese were pilmg up on lhe to the remarkable visiOn of birds. dihedral, the upsweep of wh1ch is threshhold of wmler, and men Far to the south the bluebills or to memory, for landmarks along much greater than in any common came to watch them in awe and ruddy ducks were just begm- the way are often obscured by soaring bird m Iowa E S. Around Forney's Lake, Kellogg ning to nest, and the nests of pin night, storms and fogs. Slough and the Green Bottoms and tails and mallards were nearly a Like other natural puzzles, bu-d ways, do not really <'H t'P for a solu L ake Manawa south of Couoc11 month old. The sprmg fl1ght on the m1gration may never be solved tion. They only lmow that geese Bluffs there were flocks of 100,000 MiSSISSippi flyway was over. Any many men, although they keep a tryst in tlw north when blue and snow geese In fields near No man knows t he reasons or wonder at the miracle of the fly- winter is O\ er and thal is enough Luton and Horseshoe Lake there mechamcs of this JOU rney, but • • * * were geese almost without num- many have pondered it. Some be her by the 20th of March, feedmg lieve that the bi rds a re followmg on waste corn left the prev10us routes dictated to them by anc1ent autumn by mechanical corn p1ck- ice caps. They t hin k that the ice ers Men tried fulllely to estimate sheets of the glacial age drove all the1r numbers and gave up life before them, and birds moved A farmer, lookmg out ove1 h1s north or south as the glac1ers re fields of winter wheal, complamed ceded or advanced. These great "It ain't their eating that I mmd rac1al movements may have be so much, but their doggone stom7J- come hab1ts that remain u nbrol{eo ill!!!" In the nver towns street today lights attracting the birds were It is also thought that the north turned off to end the ceaseless land may have been the old ances clamor of circling geese. But by tral home of all birds, and that 1t late March the last barriers of our was a fair, warm land in which winter had collapsed, and by the birds could live all year. Perhaps first of April the ~eese were ~one that IS why birds, still dreammg from Iowa. of a d1slant past, seek the old home I In April the flocks moved north- ranges every spring ward to Manitoba One night m Others believe that the ancestral early May a Winnipeg policeman home was in the south, by so many heard the beginning of their pass- birds concentrated there lhal il ing and knew it was finally spring was 1mpossible for all of them to For nearly a week the great, scat- ~ nest and feed So, some of these tere over the pack of ice of Hudson's off these rations A few men have J nu stwrnlaT l'hul• Ba) They were making for the reflected that birds go north lo No man knows the reasons or mechanics of migra t ion but some ~e l ie v e that these bank reelong mud flats and barren tun- avoid the many enemies of l be swallows are following routes dlc:ta ted to them by anc1e nt Ice ca ps. IOWA CO NSERVATIONIST Page 23 accurately the status of our pheas or so acres m the tract, it is under ants: how many are available and stood, includes some other work, st how long and hard they can be such as Improvements to the ac g, hunted without endangering fu cess road, some tree and brush re d. ture production. moval from waters in the west side Conservation has been defined as of the rnam lake, and a boat dock. the "wise use of our natural re it When thts Will come about is not sources." The fall roadside census yet known but will undoubtedly is IS a m oder n, scientific game man lg follow as the area comes into wider agement tool that will help in the use, as it undoubtedly will. tg wise use of one of Iowa's favorite es The current Improvements, at a wildlife resources: wily Mr. Ring contract figure of slightly more neck. ld than $99,000, are being met from ee funds available to the state from the tax levy upon guns and am :d GOOD NEWS FOR es munition ... a dividend upon such SPORTSMEN payments in future enjoyment. c or Sportsmen, we feel certain, were Many sports and civic-minded pleased with the a nnouncement individuals have had a hand in keeping the Lake Odessa project •le that the Iowa Conservation Corn mission has moved forward with alive and bringing it to its present be stale of development and in getting cf its plan for improvement of the n- Lake Odessa area in Louisa County the state interested in the preser as a public recreation area . . . vation and improvement of the a a rea. ee particularly those who are follow J1m Shennan J'hnlo. ers of the sports of fishing a nd Present and future generations 00 " The most Important weather fac:tor influenc:ing the roadside pheasant c:ensus was f ound ed to be the amount of de w on the morning the c:ount w as t a ken. duck hunting. of fishermen, hunters and others th * For an extended period now, who like to wet a line, draw a bead oe varying effects on the number of sportsmen have been pressing for upon a mallard or just get out in Pheasant Counts . . . I birds seen, it was actually not action which would improve the te (Continued !rom page 17 ) the open, will doubtless express A few states, including Iowa, very important to measure these region, which is under administra their thanks that through this ac have done some research into the conditions. Any Iowa farmer who tion of the Iowa Conservation Corn tion, another recreation area was has walked to the back forty to mission. preserved for their use.-Muscatine ar influence these physical factors have on the roadside count. They get his milk cows through knee A contract has been let for in Journal. ~s . found, among other things, that high pasture every morning can stallation of pipes and valves de ed tell you that the amount of dew the amount of dewfall present had signed to control the water level If disturbed at the proper time, liS on the grass depends on a combina a significant effect on the number in the lake a nd repairs to a levee Canada geese can be dangerous. ·ds tion of wind, temperature, cloudi of pheasants seen along an early which gave way back in the spring Several years ago a Canadian )ly ness and other conditions existing of 1951 when the Mississippi River morning census route. The diffi landowner was riding horseback .he during the night. Consequently, if was on a rampage, plus some ex culty was that nobody knew of any over his farm when he surprised be a dew measurement is obtained, cavation. simple method for measuring dew two nesting geese at one of his .be the other factors do not neces The contractor is expected to fall. Such measurement terms as ponds. As the horse accidentally is sarily have to be measured. get under way some time soon on "light," "medium" and "heavy" stepped on their nest, both geese .on the undertaking, and with a 250- dew did not have the same m ean With future roadside counts began rnakmg powerdtves at horse day completion time specied, there's ing to all workers. made in each county, it will be pos and rider Although the rider bent a chance indicated that before the Here is where our Palestine sible to adjust them all to a con low over the horse's neck, one of - year ends, sportsm en hereabouts IU· friends come into the picture. In s ta nt dew reading and obtain a the geese struck him hard enough ·se the Middle E ast, an area of little more accurate estimate of the may get a chance to enjoy the im proved facilities. to break several ribs and knock ten rainfall, dew is of great Importance pheasant popula tion. In the past, him from the saddle.- J . M. as a source of moisture for culti a change in pheasant population Ultimate development of the 3,000 vated crops. In the Bible there are from one year to the next had to * * passages praising dew and there be 20 per cent or more to signtfy are even special Hebrew prayers an up or down trend 10 popula for dew in summer. tions. With the dew m easurement A scientist named S. Duvdevani method state biologists should be and his assistants spent years try able to detect population changes ing to find a simple way for m eas more accurately. uring dewfall without using a lot Research into the daily timing of of complicated apparatus. They the fall roadside census revealed finally carne up with an "optical that the counts should be started method," based on the size, form at the same time with respect to and distribution of dew drops that sunrise each morning. If this is collected during t he night on a done, it is not necessary to correct small wood block. These were corn for the fact that the number of pared with a series of numbered pheasants seen decreases at a photographs showing different, steady rate soon after sunrise. known amounts of dew. The num Starting the count at a set time by ber of the photograph most re the clock is not satisfactory sembling the dew depostt on the Analysis of changing cover con wood block was recorded by the ob ditions and counts made from Au server as the amount of dew de gust through Ootober showed that posited during the night. August is the best time for taking During the late summer and fall an Iowa roadside census. In recent of 1952, one of these spectal Duv years counts have usually been devani dew gauges was used to conducted in late September and measure the dew each morning in early October. If the counts a re the W innebago area. made in August, the results will be The most important weather fac available to administrators sooner, tor influencing the roadside pheas and can be given longer and more ant census was found to be the careful consideration before pheas amount of dew on the morning the ant seasons and bag limits are set count was tal{Cll 'l'hough such fac As a result of the knowledge tors as wmd velocity. temperature. gained from this investigation, the relative humidity, cloudiness and Jim Shennan Photo. Iowa State Conservation Commis Contrac:t s have been let for Lake Odessa c:ontrol struc:tures. Repairs will be made to barometric pressure change had sion will be able to determine more the levee whic:h gave way In the spring of 1951. Page 24 IOWA CONSERVA TIONI ST rcsen·oirs or farm ponds. Drought W d T I conditions now prevalent in the a r ens a e s . . . 1 a rc,\ have seriously reduced water 1 t uutu tw•l f rum page 19 lc\ cis in many tmpoundmcnls. ~aw a man in the front seat hold- A continuation of the drought mg a gun with the barrel up, evi wlll further lower wat<>r levels, ~:;tl~it~atc~ing f~r birds along crowchng fish populations and pro- 1 'd 1 I he dnver knew the clueing better than average fishing ;1 1~ r;a<_s \\'tll. and drove care bccau!-'c of a concentration of u ~ e:-;Hic gurJcl. pheasant cover. catchable sized fi:-;h. On the other \\hen~ th.e c:u· fm al~y drO'\.'e into hancl, rainfall may refill the reser- ~ake, Flo} d hgurcd It wa~ about 'oirs creating an expanded <>rwir- ttme to check the car and tts pas onmcnt in which fishing is nor- sengcrs.. ,H.nwever, the ca.r pulled mally good In either case some up .befOJ e. a chmch and tts v.. ell spt•cies management may he nee- dressed cl~l\'<• r got .out be~or~ Floyd cssary and attempts will be made ~uld spc,~l< .to !urn Its JUSt as ' to control over-productwn of pan- thell .. he d_Hln t ~.he passenger in fish as situatwns d<'\'Clop This _e hunlmg cap was the man's wtfe and her ""un" ·a 1 Vo lumE will be done either bv actual re- . ' . ... '' s a wee moval of stunted pantish with net dmg ~H ke \Vt_th a black bridegroom or :-;cine or by attemptina to con- standmg on tl. The couple had evi trol young-of-the-year p7.oductwn dently 5lowed down in the low, b) mtroduction of largemouth bass. roug? spots of the road to avotd . . shakmg the cake. SpecJCs control m southern Iowa Floyd ,,·rites that h d'dn't .. waters IS occasionally necessary 1 the point further buteh dt prt~ss for cxc e s.s p opu l a t'tons . o f s t un t ed to go to thl' we Mississippi River is \'ious lof "' * * • • expected to produce ten million reservou walleyed pil