Seasons of Wildlife
- Fall migration on the refuge offers impressive numbers of Canada geese, ducks and sandhill cranes.
- Spring migration offers a variety of unique waterbirds and songbirds and the sounds of frogs chorusing.
- Summer is nesting time at the marsh so wildlife is often less visible.
- Winter is a quiet time at the marsh but wildlife is still abundant including otters, muskrats, hawks, owls and coyotes.
2024 Fall Migration Surveys
9/11/2024
Total birds counted during survey - 17,670
Top Species Sighted by Bird Group
- Dabbler - Green-winged teal - 6,397
- Diver - Redhead - 44
- Geese - Canada goose - 264
- Marsh bird - Ring-billed gull - 823
- Shorebird - unidentified shorebird - 29
- Swan - Trumpeter swan - 46
- Wading Bird - Sandhill crane - 566
9/18/2024
Total birds counted during survey - 17,761
Top Species Sighted by Bird Group
- Dabbler - Green-winged teal - 4,642
- Diver - Redhead - 17
- Geese - Canada goose - 318
- Marsh bird - American coot - 1,809
- Shorebird - Killdeer - 63
- Swan - Trumpeter swan - 56
- Wading Bird - Sandhill crane - 1,659
9/25/2024
Total birds counted during survey - 28,774
Top Species Sighted by Bird Group
- Dabbler - Green-winged teal - 4,330
- Diver - Ruddy duck - 20
- Geese - Canada goose - 8,360
- Marsh bird - American coot - 4,432
- Shorebird - Short-tailed dowitcher - 143
- Swan - Trumpeter swan - 45
- Wading Bird - Sandhill crane - 1,092
10/2/2024
Total birds counted during survey - 40,939
Top Species Sighted by Bird Group
- Dabbler - Mallard - 8,035
- Diver - Ruddy duck - 220
- Geese - Canada goose - 3,918
- Marsh bird - American coot - 4,843
- Shorebird - Long-billed dowitcher - 80
- Swan - Trumpeter swan - 39
- Wading Bird - Sandhill crane - 1,056
10/9/2024
Total birds counted during survey - 45,330
Top Species Sighted by Bird Group
- Dabbler - Mallard - 7,893
- Diver - Ruddy duck - 52
- Geese - Canada goose - 6,875
- Marsh bird - American coot - 7,177
- Shorebird - Lesser yellowlegs - 37
- Swan - Trumpeter swan - 44
- Wading Bird - Sandhill crane - 1,899
10/16/2024
Total birds counted during survey - 62,147
Top Species Sighted by Bird Group
- Dabbler - Green-winged teal - 11,149
- Diver - Ruddy duck - 3,167
- Geese - Canada goose - 12,319
- Marsh bird - American coot - 11,572
- Shorebird - Greater yellowlegs - 54
- Swan - Trumpeter swan - 41
- Wading Bird - Sandhill crane - 1,966
10/23/2024
Total birds counted during survey - 81,438
Top Species Sighted by Bird Group
- Dabbler - American wigeon - 9,857
- Diver - Ruddy duck - 409
- Geese - Canada goose - 15,718
- Marsh bird - American coot - 10,701
- Shorebird - Greater yellowlegs - 49
- Swan - Trumpeter swan - 39
- Wading Bird - Sandhill crane - 9,255
2024 Spring Migration Surveys
2/22/2024
Total birds counted during survey - 6,148
Top Species Sighted by Bird Group
- Dabbler - Mallard - 133
- Diver - Common merganser - 11
- Geese - Canada goose - 5,850
- Marsh bird - Ring-billed gull - 5
- Swan - Trumpeter swan - 26
- Wading Bird - Whooping crane - 1
2/29/2024
Total birds counted during survey - 13,841
Top Species Sighted by Bird Group
- Dabbler - Mallard - 598
- Diver - Common Goldeneye 2, Lesser Scaup - 2
- Geese - Canada goose - 12,669
- Swan - Trumpeter swan - 36
- Wading Bird - Sandhill crane - 315
3/8/2024
Total birds counted during survey - 35,548
Top Species Sighted by Bird Group
- Dabbler - Mallard - 6,106
- Diver - Ring-necked duck - 1,475
- Geese - Canada goose - 25,581
- Marsh Bird - Ring-billed gull - 93
- Shorebird - Killdeer - 3
- Swan - Trumpeter swan - 35
- Wading Bird - Sandhill crane - 160
3/13/2024
Total birds counted during survey - 61,937
Top Species Sighted by Bird Group
- Dabbler - Mallard - 8,081
- Diver - Ring-necked duck - 1,242
- Geese - Canada goose - 45,994
- Marsh Bird - American coot - 224
- Shorebird - Killdeer - 7
- Swan - Tundra swan - 17
- Wading Bird - Sandhill crane - 111
3/20/2024
Total birds counted during survey - 52,835
Top Species Sighted by Bird Group
- Dabbler - Mallard - 16,290
- Diver - Lesser Scaup - 1,083
- Geese - Canada goose - 24,972
- Marsh Bird - American coot - 449
- Shorebird - Killdeer - 2
- Swan - Trumpeter swan - 14
- Wading Bird - Sandhill crane - 18
3/28/2024
Total birds counted during survey - 61,867
Top Species Sighted by Bird Group
- Dabbler - Mallard - 16,014
- Diver - Lesser Scaup - 823
- Geese - Canada goose - 34,107
- Marsh Bird - American coot - 1989
- Shorebird - Killdeer - 10
- Swan - Trumpeter swan - 33
- Wading Bird - Sandhill crane - 24
4/5/2024
Total birds counted during survey - 28,647
Top Species Sighted by Bird Group
- Dabbler - Mallard - 9,458
- Diver - Lesser Scaup - 811
- Geese - Canada goose - 10,163
- Marsh Bird - American coot - 2,136
- Shorebird - Killdeer - 9
- Swan - Trumpeter swan - 28
- Wading Bird - Sandhill crane - 8
4/10/2024
Total birds counted during survey - 15,744
Top Species Sighted by Bird Group
- Dabbler - Mallard - 4,357
- Diver - Ruddy duck - 858
- Geese - Canada goose - 2,263
- Marsh Bird - American coot - 2,326
- Shorebird - Killdeer - 5, Black-necked stilt - 5
- Swan - Trumpeter swan - 24
Wading Bird - Sandhill crane - 9
4/24/2024
Total birds counted during survey - 12,817
Top Species Sighted by Bird Group
- Dabbler - Green-winged teal - 1,710
- Diver - Ruddy duck - 1,141
- Geese - Canada goose - 833
- Marsh Bird - American coot - 1,354
- Shorebird - Black-necked stilt - 16
- Swan - Trumpeter swan - 33
- Wading Bird - Great egret - 49
5/28/2024 - Last spring survey. Fall surveys began after September 11th -
Total birds counted during survey - 4,729
Top Species Sighted by Bird Group
- Dabbler - Blue-winged teal - 414
- Diver - Ruddy duck - 121
- Geese - Canada goose - 762
- Marsh Bird - American white pelican - 1,505
- Shorebird - Lesser yellowlegs - 135
- Swan - Trumpeter swan - 29
- Wading Bird - Great egret - 204
Featured Species
The marsh provides critical habitat for more than 300 species of birds as well as muskrats, red foxes, turtles, frogs, bats, dragonflies, fish and much more.
Muskrat
Muskrats are often seen swimming or feeding on cattails and make their homes in cattail “huts” throughout the refuge. The original “marsh managers”, they create open areas of water for waterfowl to swim and feed.
Redhead duck
Originally established for this species, the refuge supports the largest nesting population of redhead ducks east of the Mississippi River. Thousands use the marsh each year.
American white pelican
American white pelicans nest abundantly on islands in the interior of the marsh and may be seen feeding in large groups - “herding” fish into shallower water for easier dining.
