The world’s wetlands are some of the most productive bird environments. In woodlands you may hear more birds than you can see. In marshes, fens, bogs and wet meadows, you are almost guaranteed to see something. The list of birds that utilize wetlands is very long: ducks, geese, swans, herons, bitterns, egrets, rails, cranes, terns, gulls, swallows, wrens and sparrows, to name just a few. Wetland complexes that have larger expanses of water, such as Crex Meadows in Wisconsin or Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge in northwestern Minnesota will have loons and grebes and a greater variety of ducks. You will also find Northern Harriers and, maybe, Osprey and Bald Eagles. Wetland complexes are home to more than just birds. There are muskrats and mink, dragonflies and damselflies, turtles and salamanders, frogs and toads. River Otters may frequent larger wetlands.

Sitting quietly at the edge of a marsh affords the opportunity to watch the nature world carrying on in its inimitable rhythms. The most frequent sights will be feeding behavior. Herons, egrets, bitterns will be patiently stalking their prey. Northern Harriers will fly in quartering patterns seeking a meal. Gulls and terns will hover and dive, or skim the surface. Puddle ducks will tip up reaching for food below the surface. Diving ducks and grebes will disappear and resurface with dinner in their beaks. Swallows, as well as dragonflies and damselflies will catch insect prey on the wing. In spring and early summer, with patience, you may see mating, nesting and parenting on the marsh. I have watched Red-necked Grebes mating, grebes and loons nesting, and all sorts of waterfowl rearing their young.

Read the rest of the Vija's column in our July issue...