Wild Things: What about lack of duck food?
Q: “The caption with your huntsman picture in the Journal Star speaks of a lack of (duck) food in the Illinois River Valley. How can there be a lack of food with more and more river bottoms being turned wild and farmers raising the biggest crops ever?” – Don Axt, Peoria, Ill. A: The flood that soaked the Illinois River Valley in late August killed most of the natural submerged vegetation that ducks feed on early in the fall. That flood also wiped out most corn and millet planted at state areas and duck clubs, except at those few locations protected by large levees. Without those easily accessible food sources, experts believe migrating waterfowl shortened their stay or moved to the Mississippi River, where flooded food was more available. As for surrounding farm fields, some hunters reported success in picked cornfields. Fall plowing does not help in that regard. Plus, this year’s early harvest and subsequent warm weather allowed much waste grain to germinate, leaving less food availab
