The duck migration is ahead of schedule in Southern Illinois.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources aerial census indicated 91,600 ducks are in the region. The five-year average for this week is 63,980.

Carlyle Lake is holding 21,000 ducks, followed by Rend Lake 16,500, Union County 16,000, Crab Orchard 11,000, Mermet Lake 8,600, Cache River 7,500, Horseshoe Lake 5,000, Pyramid State Park 4,800, and Keck's Marsh 1,200.

The ducks in the region represent a mixed bag. Although most are mallards and gadwall, every site surveyed has sizeable numbers of miscellaneous dabblers. Keck's Marsh, Carlyle Lake, Rend Lake and Pyramid are holding fair percentages of widgeon and some pintail.

There are also good numbers of teal reported at Keck's Marsh, Carlyle, Rend, Pyramid State Park and Horseshoe Lake.

Most areas are also holding fair numbers of ringnecks. About three-fourths of the Mermet population is miscellaneous divers.

In the meantime, the census indicated just 2,500 Canada geese in the region.

The Du Quoin State Fairgrounds has 800 geese, followed by Pyramid State Park 600, Crab Orchard 500, Horseshoe Lake 300, Keck's Marsh 100, Burning Star Mine 100, Union County 50, Ballard County, Ky. 25 and Rend Lake 25.

In addition, there are 5,350 snow geese in the area � 2,800 at Rend Lake, 2,300 at Pyramid State Park and 200 at Carlyle Lake and 50 at Union County.

The census also showed 3,025 white-fronted geese � 2,100 at Pyramid, 500 at Union County, 275 at Rend Lake and 150 at Ballard County, Ky.

Les Winkeler