Pennsylvania Game News - July 2022 - 22

RIVERSIDE LOCATION
State Game Lands 290's riverside location provides some unique outdoor opportunities.
The 831-acre Haldeman Island is wholly contained within the Susquehanna River, while the 156-acre
Duncan Island to its west, and additional acreage along the Juniata River north of Duncannon, can be considered
extensions of that tract.
The habitat on the game lands - a mosaic of wetlands, open areas, shrublands and forest - largely
resembles that on other properties nearby. But seasonally flooded impoundments make it all the more
inviting to wildlife.
Most of the impoundments on State Game Lands 290 are managed by manipulating water levels. Lowering
or draining water in spring allows sunlight to reach the bottom of the impoundments, encouraging
growth of native plant species that provide suitable habitat for waterfowl, wading birds and shorebirds.
Once plants are established, water levels are raised, either by rainfall or with water pumped from the river.
The northern 360 acres of Haldeman Island is designated as a wildlife propagation area that's closed
year-round to public access. An additional 100-acre extension of that propagation area is closed from February
through August. But areas of the island that are open to the public provide good hunting and wildlifeviewing
opportunities. Waterfowlers, furtakers and deer hunters all frequent State Game Lands 290, which
also offers chances to view birds from bald eagles and ospreys to eastern meadowlarks and bank swallows.
MANAGED DOVES
State Game Lands 290 has two
managed dove fields - a 24-acre
field on Duncan Island, east of
the Red Rabbit restaurant, and a
20-acre field on Haldeman Island,
south of the access bridge and
habitat crew headquarters.
Both fields are planted with
strips of wheat and sunflowers. As
the season nears, prescribed fire
is used in portions of the fields to
put seed on the ground as a food
source, as well as remove thatch so
doves can obtain grit.
The fields quickly have become
popular with hunters.
MAINTAINING MIXED HABITAT
State Game Lands 290 consists of fields maintained
in warm season grasses and pollinator mixes, reverting
old-fields, seasonally flooded impoundments, wetlands,
mud flats, early successional shrublands and mature river
bottom forest.
Over the years, prescribed fire, herbicide treatments
and agricultural cultivation have been used aggressively
to control invasive plant species here. This has allowed for
planting a diverse mix of wildlife habitat, from sunflower
fields to warm-season grasses to cool-season vegetation.
Recently, approximately 10 acres of Haldeman Island
were planted with just shy of 1,800 trees and shrubs to
enhance habitat for woodcock. A variety of species of aspen,
dogwood, and crabapple along with many others were
planted. Woodcock habitat benefits many other species,
as well, including deer and turkeys.
HISTORY IN THE MAKING
Haldeman Island was one of two sites in PennTo
further explore
state game lands
visit the Mapping
Center at
www.pgc.pa.gov
sylvania where bald eagle chicks collected from
wild nests in Canada were raised as part of a restoration
project launched in 1983, when only three
bald eagle nests were known to exist statewide.
Pennsylvania's bald eagle population today
results from that effort.
The original eagle hacking tower still stands
on Haldeman Island, and a new half-mile, wheelchair-accessible walking trail
will allow nature enthusiasts to observe it, as well as two impoundments and
numerous fields. Educational kiosks along the trail will provide information
about various plant species and landscape types found on game lands.
As of press time, the trail was under construction.
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http://www.pgc.pa.gov

Pennsylvania Game News - July 2022

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