The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

TRENDS Monday, August 12,1985 Section B r V Ducks take a nosedive By Mark Smith Herald staff writer Ducks mean different things to different people. For some, they provide entertainment through their antics at the local beach or pond. For others, it is the exhilaration that comes from sitting in a marsh on a clear, crisp, fall day straining for the first signs of approaching prey. And for still others, it is the succulent, sweet taste of a roasted half of duck. No matter what the form, ducks do bring pleasure to a significant portion of the population. Due to a combination of dry weather and habitat destruc­ tion, however, the populations of most duck species in North America have been decreasing in recent years. While the declines may be far from the critical level at this time, they do represent a trend that, if unchecked, could result in serious problems in the future. In a series of reports released recently by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Department of the Interior, reductions were found in both duck breeding populations and in estimates of the number of ducks that will be wincing their way south during the fall migration season. Breeding populations this year were the lowest recorded in 31 years and the fall flight forecast was the lowest ever projected since the program was started 16 years ago. According to Ray Marshalla, district wildlife manager for the Illinois Department of Conservation, the majority of ducks found in North America actually come from a rela­ tively small breeding ground in the prairies of southern Canada and northern United States. This does not include the relatively small number of semi-domestic ducks found at local beaches and ponds, that have come to depend on humans for food. "The ducks breed in prairie "pot holes' (small lakes and large ponds)/' Marshalla said. "The pot holes average about a quarter acre in size and number 10 million or more." Marshalla said the prairies have been experiencing a drought for the last five years, which has decreased the amount of suitable breeding ground. Due to the predicted drop in duck populations, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is considering tighter restrictions, to reduce the take in this fall's duck hunting season by 25 percent. But, according to Jim Shepard, director of Ducks Unlimit­ e d a n d a w a t e r f o w l b i o l o g i s t , i n c r e a s e d r e s t r i c t i o n s o n M < 1 1 P 1 | | I I I M H hunting are not needed. Ducks Unlimited is a national and international group headquartered in Long Grove, that is devoted to the preservation and restoration of wetlands for waterfowl. The group does include hunters in its member­ ship, but they are not in the majority. Shepard said that while he feels this has been a "pretty severe drought," he believes government intervention is not needed, and that nature will correct the problem by itself. "Hunters cannot shoot a duck that is not there," he explained. "The hunters' take would be naturally decreased if there are fewer ducks. We have seen similar droughts in the lMO's, a small one in the 1950's and of course the dustbowl days of the 1930's, and in each case the waterfowl I 1\ f 1A falv populations bounced back with improved conditions." m M Marshalla agreed that droughts are cyclical in nature and their damage is normally corrected naturally with time, but in the case of this drought, he feds the real threat comes from the destruction of waterfowl habitats. A 3it M .r iu mlk & V cent i 'There has been good ground water levels _ this year," he explained. "But the drought gave ̂ farmers a chance to plow what shouldn't be plowed. The farmers were able to get into vegetation around ponds so that the grassy cover is gone and the ducks are left without protection." Marshalla said that even if ideal weather conditions were present, it would still take several years for duck numbers to rebound. The reason for this, he said, is that it would take several years for the breeding grounds to replenish themselves, and since the duck populations are down, there are fewer ducks to breed and build back up the stock. According to Marshalla, when ducks migrate from their breeding grounds, they follow what are called duck "Byways" across the U.S. The three main ones are the Atlantic, Pacific and Mississipi flyways, he added, and northern Illinois, pecifically McHenry County, lies along the lississippi Flyway. According to the fall flight forecasts re­ leased by Fish and Wildlife Service, 22 per­ cent fewer ducks of all species will be mi­ grating south along the flyways this fall than last year. Marshalla said the species of par­ ticular interest to the McHenry County hunt­ ers are the mallards, wood, and blue-winged teal ducks, which together make up 90 per- ! ducks taken in this area. Mallards are the species taken in the largest numbers by hunters in McHenry County, Marshalla said, and their numbers were estimated to have declined by only eight percent over last year. He pointed out, though, that from the 30-year average (1955-04) mallard popula­ tions have decreased by 35 percent, which has caused concern about their future. The 1 blue-winged teal decreased three percent 7 over last year but 24 percent from the 30- year average. Marshalla said wood ducks use completely different breeding grounds. He explained that wood ducks breed locally, in wooded areas, as the name implies. They have not been affected by the drought to any great extent. Marshalla also pointed out that, while iall number of ducks from other species breed locally as , the numbers bred locally is insignificant in comparison to i number bred in the prairies. Other ducks of interest to this area, Marshalla said, include the gad wall: down 22 percent over last year and six percent from the 30-year average; wigeon, down 37 percent over last year and 21 percent from the average; scaup or bluebill, down 26 percent and 11 percent; and the green-winged teal: up four percent over last year (the only increase), but down 12 percent from the 30-year average. According to Marshalla, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is actually considering several measures to combat these de­ creases. He said that while the final decision may not be announced until September, he feels there is a 99 percent chance id changes will go through. 7 that the proposed i DUCKS--Page 10B PEOPLE TALK Dr. Gonzo, media critic HUnter S. Thompson, the guiding light of Gonzo, is considering becoming a columnist for the San Francisco Examiner. "We're fairly dose. We've agreed on what to write about -- the media," said David Burgin, the new editor of the Examiner, who says be and Thompson are "down to details" on a contract. Thompson's brand of Gonzo journalism is far from what you find in the average newspaper, which Burgin thinks will be a plus. "I'm not saying he would be the best choice of media critic for The Washington Post or the Des Moines Register but maybe it will make someone want to read media criticism. I think the media criticism in a daily newspaper is done pretty much for other editors. GlimnftAft Readers don't relate to it. Here might be a way to get readers to relate. ̂ And it might be a giggle." Thompson also is working on a book about his recent tenure as night manager at Mitchell Brothers, a San Francisco dub that features live sex shows. acquitted of cocaine dealing last year, and two new partners were in Columbus, Ohio, last week to talk about their plans for what one of them says will be "the fastest car in the world." They will only make 200 of the special-edition sports cars a year. De Lorean's previous independent effort resulted in the sleek stainless-steel DMC-12, which was used as the time machine in the movie "Back to the Future." The new car reportedly will be capable of 200 mph, which won't make it very practical on city streets, and will be called the Firestar 500, although Lazerus might be more appropriate considering De Lorean's recent financial troubles. Misha needs knee surgery Ballet star Mikhail Baryshnikov is scheduled for surgery on his right knee again but officials at his American Ballet Theater say it should not be too detrimental to his career. "It's a torn cartilage on the same knee he had surgery on in 1983," said ABT spokesman Robert Pontardli. "It seems like an athlete's injury." Baryshnikov, 38, who also is the ABTs artistic director, undergoes the operation Tuesday in New York. "The last time this happened he was out for four months," Pontardli said. "The ABT tour starts in January so we're hoping for a speedy recovery." Meanwhile, Baryshnikov is walking without the aid of even a cane and Pontardli said there is no indication his career is endangered. "I don't think he's looking at it that way," he said. Baryshnikov, who will soon be seen in movie "White Nights," injured the lmee during a dance class in Clevdand, where he was touring with his private company. Hard times at the hard rock Lome Michaels, the creator of "Saturday Night Live," once again is not ready for prime time. Brandon Tartikoff, the president of NBC Entertainment, said Michaels is returning as executive producer of the show. A new cast will be on hand when the show's new season starts Nov. 9 ... Aykroyd, managed by Yul * for the famous, has ai The Hard Rock Cafe, owned by Dan Brynner's son, Roc, and a gathering place been fined by the New York City Health Department. A June! resulted in a $160 fine for, among other things, missing ceiling tiles and holes in the floors and a "massive fly infestation." A second inspection led to a $185 fine, but a health department spokesman said the problems were minor "except for the flies." "There's not a fly in the place," Hard Rock Vice President Eric Crisman said. Health inspectors, possibly impressed by the costumes of Bette Midler and Elvis Presley and guitars from the Rolling Stones on the walls, plan to make one more unannounced visit later this month. Back from the past It seems like only yesterday that John De Lorean was taking out newspaper ads asking for contributions to pay his legal bills, but now he says he's ready to go back into the car-making business. De Lorean, Memories on stamps UPI photo Film and stage actress Lauren Bacall, widow of Humphrey Bogart, and Hjordis Niven, right, who was married to the late David Niven, scan stamps depicting Niven during a preview at the National Film Theatre in London by the Post Office of a set of five stamps celebrating British Film Year. Stamps featuring Peter Sellers, Charlie Chaplin, Vivien Leigh and Alfred Hit- chock will be issued in October. Public meeting on airport scheduled for August 14 Recently the McHenry County Board's airport study consultant de­ livered his recommendations for the four top sites of the nineteen origi­ nally considered for a public air­ port. Larry Donoghue. of Ralph Burke Associates, recommended further study of the of the four high­ est scoring sites based on his rating system. The top rated site was site B. which is located in Seneca Town­ ship. second rated was site F. which is located in Grafton Township, third was site G. also in Grafton Township, and fourth was site K in Coral Township. The sites were rat­ ed according to seven different cri­ teria including accessibility, site ad­ equacy. site availability, local airspace compatibility, site engi­ neering characteristics, environ­ mental consequences and numbers of political jurisdictions involved. Due to the public response at the last meeting, the board's steering committee has decided to hold a public meeting August 14 at 7 p.m. in the McHenry County College caf­ eteria. The public will be able to comment on the four proposed sites in order to assist the consultant in his consideration of their adequacy. The county's airport feasibility study is about six to eight months from completion at this time. Deter­ mination of aviation demand fore­ casts has already led to a land as­ s e m b l y r e q u i r e m e n t f o r t h e proposed airport that amounts to somewhat more than seven hundred acres. In .ddition to a final site selection, a determination of land acquisition and facility construction costs and the estimation of project­ ed revenues and annual operating costs must be completed Coast Guard accepting applications for cadets The United States Coast Guard Academy has announced that it is now accepting and processing ap­ plications for appointment as cadet, U.S. Coast Guard, Class of 1990. Applications are being accepted for both men and women. Appoint­ ments as Coast Guard cadets are tendered solely on the basis of an annual nationwide competition, with no congressional appoint­ ments or geographical quotas. Applications for appointment must be submitted to the Director of Admissions, U.S. Coast Guard Academy, prior to Dec. 15,1985. The competition for appoint­ ment as cadet is based on the can­ didate's high school rank, per­ formance on either the SAT or ACT, and leadership potential as demonstrated by participation in high school extracurricular ac­ tivities, community affairs and/or part-time employment. To qualify for the competition, an applicant must be unmarried at the time of appointment, have no legal obligations resulting from a prior marriage, and must have reached the age of 17 but not 22 by July 1,1986. All applicants must have graduated by June 30,1985. For further information write: Director of Admissions, U.S. Coast Guard Academy, New Lon­ don, CT 06320 or call (203 ) 444- 8501. INDEX/SECTION B Museum to present talk on button collecting Continuing with its season of special Sunday programs, the McHenry County Historical Museum in Union will present a 2 p.m. illustrated talk on button col­ lecting on Sunday, Aug. 18. The museum is pleased to have Mrs. Beth Wagner of Wonder Lake, well known in this area for her button coUection, to present the program. Actively presenting button programs since 1962, Wagner began learning about this fascinating collecting field from her mother who began the collec­ tion in 1945. During the program, Wagner plans to show buttons dating from the Colonial period along with others that are really story but­ tons such as "Ghengis Khan and the Sooth Sayer" and those il­ lustrating children's stories. The Wagner collection also includes a large number of biblical buttons and many mounted exhibits, showing a variety of materials us­ ed for the buttons. Since the 15th Century buttons have been an accepted and prac­ tical means of fastening clothes. During the 17th century especial­ ly, the richest looking and most elaborate buttons were worn by men, who often had three dozen buttons on a coat or 17 to hold up their breeches. In Victorian times, unmarried women made "charm strings" and tried to gather 999 different types of buttons from relatives and friends It was widely believ­ ed that the 1,000th button would be presented by her future husband. These and other stories are part of the rich and entertaining history that will be told Sunday, Aug. 18, at 2 p.m. Wagner's wealth of stories and buttons will enter­ tain young and old alike. Visitors are encouraged to bring along any buttons they may wish to have identified as to type and/or that they might want to share with others. Eckert Hall, where the program will take place, is accessible to the handicapped. Residents of Alden Township will be admitted free that Sunday. , / t