A Brief History of the Giant Goose Conservation Educational, Inc.
I have done some editing but most of the story was in Mr. Windish’s wording
The first meeting was held on June 17th1965 with a committee composed of the following League members, as delegates from chapters. Leo G. Windish, Kewanee Chapter, President of the Illinois Division, Louis Rapa, VP. Of the Illinois Division representing Prime Beef Chapter, Jack Swan, George Andrews, and Elton Fawks, Black Hawk Chapter, Mrs. Elmer Neulieb Secretary of the Illinois Division and Geneseo Chapter, and Howard White National IWLA legal counsel and also representing the Havana Chapter. The Peabody Coal Company was represented by Alan Grandt, and land use manager. Also present was Lou Weber, who was representing the Illinois Coal Operators Association, From Springfield, Illinois.
Preceding the meeting, the Illinois Division had discussion at great length the need of a Youth Conservation Education program, or a project in order that the League could teach our young people to appreciate and more fully enjoy the beauty found in the outdoors. Jack Swan of the Black Hawk Chapter, hit upon the idea of converting the strip mind region into a multi-purpose area. Most mine areas had a number of lakes. These could be utilized for fishing, since many already have been stocked with fish.
After a long discussion, weighting carefully the pros and cons of what was best use could be made of the area, Alan Grandt told some of regions in Illinois they already had were being developed. An agreement was reached, that after a thoroughly exploring the best utilization of the grounds with the Coal Company, to lease the land to the Illinois Division. The first lease was for three years at a nominal fee of $200.00 per year. In return, the Illinois Division agreed to implement and carry out stipulations and terms of this lease. Minutes within the Illinois Division will reflect how well the chapters within the Illinois Division worked together in supporting the implementation of the terms set forth in the lease. Chapters can look back to June 17th, 1965 a Hallmark Date, when the plans were initially made to begin a Youth Conservation Education Program. The approval date by the chapters of the Illinois Division was in May of 1966, and the project mane was to become known as the Giant Goose Conservation Education Workshop.
The Illinois Division advance $500.00 to launch the new project. Later, when it was seen that the project was successful, and off to a resounding start, a motion was made to declare $500.00 as a gift from the Division. Giant Goose Conservation Education Workshop, Inc. was to become known as the pilot project of the Illinois Division, carrying on conservation and education programs for multi-use purposes on the land leased from the Peabody Coal Company.
The original track of land contained about 200 acres. The track contained 11 lakes and each of the lakes was stocked with fish when the grounds were acquired. Throughout the years a program of restocking has been pursued, in consultation, with species of fish recommended by the area fish biologist. The first two years more than 12,000 shrubs, trees and ornamentals were planted, with Illinois Department of Conservation recommending the varieties of species to be planted, The State of Illinois provided the man power and a tree planter. Host species of trees were planted that were judged best for wildlife cover and best for song and upland game birds. As a result of the tree planting, we have many song birds nesting in the area. What a joyous occasion it is to listen to the cheeps and chirps as they join in a woodland chorus, especially during the spring nesting season. The grounds are truly a haven and wildlife sanctuary.
Why Giant Goose? Since the project had an abundance of water area, League members believed the lakes could be used for wild geese and ducks, and other multi-use purpose. During the first informative years, R Bruce Waddell was president if the Illinois Division. He became very interested in a sub-species of Canada Geese, Know as the Giant Canada Goose. Enthusiasm for a program of restoration of the giant geese first surfaced at a meeting of delegates at the Elgin Chapter. Soon the idea spread to other chapters of northern Illinois, and then to the Illinois division. The Illinois Division, appropriated $500.00 to be added to private donations, and designated to be used in purchasing breeder stock. Commercial game breeders in northern Illinois had maxima stock, which were offered to the Giant Goose Committee at a nominal cost.
The first phase of the proposal was to raise funds to be used in the propagation of this almost extinct sub specie. It was believed that many Ike members along with other individuals would be willing to contribute to this project. Phase two was to distribute pairs of giant geese as breeders to public and private lake owners within the historic breeding range of these birds. They were to follow a specified plan of raising free flying progeny and permit them to migrate, thereby creating a more self-reliant wild population, the ultimate aim of this project. The historical breeding grounds for the Giant Canada Goose, includes the upper Great Lakes region, upper Mississippi valley, and the Great Plains area.
Considerable encouragement has been given this project by substantial and well known agencies. Such agencies as the Cook County Forestry Preserve District, several government preserves, and numerous small lake owners were willing to lend active support to the program to restoration of the giant goose population. To acquire further knowledge on this specie of fowl, the Illinois Division sought advice from Dr. Harold Hanson of the Illinois Natural History Survey and author of a book entitled Giant Canada Goose; Dr. William Beecher Director of the Academy of Science; Roland Eisenbis, Conservation Director of the Cook County Forest Preserve; and other whose knowledge was invaluable in guiding a practical and productive restoration program.
The original Giant Goose Conservation committee was made up of the following: Chairman R. Bruce Waddell, Treasurer Arthur Leverenz, Secretary Royal McClellenad, and committee members Dr. Harold Hanson and Dr. William Beecher, with others to be added as the situation warranted. Dr. Waddell wrote an article in the Elgin Courier Newspaper, entitled “You can help restore the Giant Goose to enthrall your children and your children’s, children”. A foot note to his article included, “We are prepared to accept contributions to the Izaak Walton League Fund, 2677 Brookside Dr. Almora Heights, Elgin Illinois 60120.”
The site selection at Giant Goose was an enclosure on the west end of the grounds, near the northern boundary of Goose Marsh. Much time and great preparation went into the finding an appealing enclosure, that was entirely fenced in. From all outward appearance, the structural engineer had done a very commendable job. We believed we had done the best that we could to supply an area that presented the best habitat that could be offered. The females did lay their eggs; however, after sitting for the required period of time necessary for incubation, the eggs did not hatch. Since all of us board members, were laymen, not skilled in wildfowl biology, a meeting was held to determine what might be the next procedure employed. From this meeting, the decision was made to contact the Illinois Department of Conservation to ask for a wild life biologist consultation. A state biologist came and he soon diagnosed our problem, which are too many geese in the enclosed area. Needless to say, that throughout the years, the committee has learned much more about the propagation of geese. At the suggestion of the state wildlife biologist the entire Goose Lake area was opened for the project.
For a number of years, our self taught naturalist, Peter Van Heerzelle, was our faithful caretaker. Mr. Heerzelle was ambassador of goodwill on the grounds. His always pleasant genial smile, accompany with an occasional hearty chuckle won him many friends among the membership. Since the biologist advised that geese need open water the year around, Mr. Peter .Heezeller took the geese to his home for wintering. There he cared for them, such as a shepherd would care for his flock. By nature Giant Canada Geese domesticate readily, he soon able to among them talking as he did so.
Mr. Ron Pointer, the wildlife biologist who had given us advice earlier about the needs of Canada Geese, brought to the grounds 12 adult geese from the Wee-Ha Tuck Lake located near Canton, Illinois, this where the State entered into the project. These geese which were part of the State project had already reared families the previous year. Only the geese we got from Mr. Waddell were pinioned. All of the geese brought to us by the Illinois Department of Conservation were “free flyers”, and all have produced offspring since their introduction.
One fascinating characteristic of Canadian Geese is that is that during migration if they escape the hunter’s gun, they will return to the area where they were hatched. So you can see from a relatively few geese from the onset, we have been able to increase our flock materially throughout the years. The present size of the flock is about 275 adults (April 1982 figures). An estimate about our capacity, is that this number, and is the limit that we can buy feed for the geese at today’s prices. Farm members of the Giant Goose Board have been most generous in donating corn to feed our enormous foragers. The value of these donations would run into hundreds of dollars.
The numbers of geese in the resident flock have now reached a point where we have noted “pioneering”, when some mated geese will adopt a pond or an isolated lake, reared their family, sometimes miles away from the sanctuary. Proud is a farmer who finds, a pair of Giant Canadians have selected his pond or lake to rear a family of goslings. It is said that Canada Geese mate for life; however, our experience has been that if one of the mated dies, they will choose another mate.
From time to time mallards were brought into the Giant Goose grounds from the Des Plaines Chapter and released. Also, on occasion, we have had a sizable number of wood ducks. One of the local FFA chapters made and erected wood duck boxes to encourage this sort of most colorful of all ducks to inhabit them. In the narration of our history much time has been devoted in telling the story of how the Giant Canadians were brought to our grounds and have become a regular attraction, and again demonstrating the theme of multi-use area.
One of the terms set forth in the lease to which we agreed was to conduct field trips for the area grade schools students, teaching them tree identification, bird and wildlife identification, as well as, fostering an enjoyment that comes in studying the beauty of our natural resources. Some of those who were on those first field trips have told us how much they did enjoy their annual outing, and that they learned much from those nature study walks,
The Izaak Walton League of America holds to the belief that if students are taught at an early age to enjoy the beauty found in nature, that they will, when they reach adulthood, be better conservationist. Yet another great plus, if they learn at an early age to enjoy and love the outdoors, in this automated age, it is likely upon adulthood, there will be a much shorter work week and thus more, and if they have already developed a love of the open spaces, they will be much happier adults. Editor’s note-the shorter work week never occurred.
Though the years many school, have availed themselves of the invitation extended to them, to come for outdoor nature study field trips. The trip usually last about three hours, and we have accommodated bus loads of area grade schools students. The Illinois Department of Conservation, the biologist, and forestry department have been most cooperative in supplying personnel, handing out materials to make the field trip more educationally valuable. We would be remised if we did not pay high praise to our bird lovers, who have given freely of their time by leading groups of students on bird identification walks, teaching students to identify birds on sight, as well as, recognizing them by their song. The tours are planned so that it concludes near Goose Lake so the students have an opportunity to see the young goslings. This is always most enjoyable, and the high point for many students on the tour, the antics of the young goslings, always entertain our guest with a good show.
The highlight of our Youth Conservation Education Workshop experience is the Annual Youth Day, always held the third Saturday in June. An invitation is extended to all youth of grade school age to come and enjoy a day on the grounds, engaging in all kinds of games and activities in which they can participate in and win prizes. Lunch was furnished at noon. Always a fishing derby is conducted and it is a real fun day for the young participants. This event has been sponsored annually by the Illinois Division. Those who attended this gala event have been most complimentary of the Illinois Division for having hosted this even, that has found much favor among our young people. We are certain that when these youth reach adulthood, many will harbor many happy memories of their experiences they held on the grounds of the Giant Goose.
To give some idea how rapidly this annual project caught on, the first Youth Day attracted a total of 76 participants, by 1973 registration soared above the 400 mark, and one Youth Day went beyond 500. By a conservative estimate, that in the 15 years it has been held, more than 5,000 youth have attended this annual event.
A project of this magnitude could never been brought about without the steadfast dedication and hard work of a lot of faithful members. It is true, at times, we faced what seemed insurmountable obstacles, and sometimes tempers flared, but calm head prevailed and we were able to steer a firm and straight course, and continue unabated. This writer would very much like to single out those individuals who gave so much of their time and hard work throughout the years towards making this Youth Day project a success. But in so doing so, some members names may be omitted, so this writer believes that the use of the phrase, “Well done everyone to all who have worked diligently and contributed towards making this project a success.”
From the onset, the Peabody Coal Company made available the use of a Caterpillar tractor, and a man to establish roadways, much of the area was marshy. His was a tremendous help to our project. If we would have had to hire all of the construction that was done, it would have been at a very high cost. Throughout the 15 years we have leased from Peabody Company, we had the pleasure of working with Mr. Alten Grandt the land use manager for Peabody. He was a man of high principles and very helpful to our cause.
A recent article which appeared in the Illinois Agra-News carried the banner as followed. “Reclaimed strip mined land becomes a wildlife paradise.” A fine story was accompanied with an excellent photograph of the Giant Canadians. We have a quote from one paragraph, “One of the more outstanding examples of alternative methods of reclamation is in an area located two miles east of Atkinson, Illinois, on route 6, called the Giant Goose Conservation Education Workshop.” Spreading across 258 acres of a former strip mined land; Giant Goose was organized in 1966 and since has become a show case of wise conservation practices.” Today, through the conservation efforts of many, the area has developed into a first class fishing and conservation area, demonstrating multi-use, as well as, a providing a haven for once thought extinct sub-species giant Canadians
When the final chapter is written, it is believed that the work done in teaching conservation-education to our youth, the outstanding success in establishing and propagating the giant Canadian Goose, will stand as a hallmark of our achievement, as well as, restoring a once unsightly and considered useless piece of land, which has been transformed into a place of beauty. All of this then, we would consider, the zenith of our success, through it did not come without a lot of very hard work from many people; yet it demonstrates what can be done when members cooperate and work together.
