One such small trip was to Oak Hammock Marsh, a wetland protected wetland about 40 minutes north of Winnipeg. Many staging and breeding waterbirds of all types can be seen here, as well as many other wetland animals.
Usally in late September the pools and lakes are filled with ducks going through "eclipse" this is when ducks grow new flight feathers, and are unable to fly for a while. Male ducks will take on the less flamboyant female colours so that they can better camouflage themselves in this vulnerable period.
Besides ducks, other waterbirds that are often present are Sandhill Cranes. The more common of the two cranes here (Whooping Crane is endangered and very rare in migration, but pops up on occasion), Sandhills gather in large flocks in grain fields and marshes to feed before leaving for the winter. They're always a neat thing to see, and often you hear their gurgling trumpeting calls long before you spot them.
I was surprised to see that while most birds were under migration, these Barn Swallows were raising a brood of babies! Apparently this isn't uncommon, as they will raise broods, sometimes two a year, up until October. As long as flying insects stick around, so can they.
Oak Hammock Marsh always seems to hide a little surprise in its extensive network of reeds and water bodies. If you live here or ever visit Manitoba, definitely worth a visit!
No comments:
Post a Comment