HomeMigration Heats Up at Oak Hammock Marsh 
Drawdown of marsh cell mimics natural wetland cycle and brings in shorebirds
Oak Hammock Marsh, May 20, 2004—After last week’s snowy weather, warmer temperatures have returned to Oak Hammock Marsh to welcome back the migrating ducks, geese and many other birds! With the ducks and geese back, nesting season has begun and the first fuzzy yellow goslings of 2004 have made their debut. The Victoria Day long weekend promises to be a great time to visit Oak Hammock Marsh and see all the wildlife.
2004 will be a special year for migration at Oak Hammock Marsh. The marsh cell adjacent to the Oak Hammock Marsh Intepretive Centre is being ‘drawn down’, or slowly drained, by Manitoba Conservation. This regular process takes place every few years. It mimics the natural wet and dry cycles of wetlands and will help the vegetation to grow back in the cell. What’s more, the drawdown will have much larger numbers of shorebirds flocking to Oak Hammock Marsh this spring, as the exposed wetland bottom will be a rich source of food for them.
“In the coming weeks, the drawdown will bring in many more shorebirds than we’re used to seeing, so it will be a great spring for birding at the marsh,” says Paula Grieef, resident naturalist at the Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre. “For the most part, the ducks and geese are back and the first goslings have already been sighted. As well, with the return of the warblers, sparrows and shorebirds, this weekend will be a fabulous time to visit the marsh.”
Over the long weekend, the Interpretive Centre will host its annual “Wetland Wonders Weekend”. Canoeing, horse-drawn wagon rides, crafts and critter dipping are just some of the activities planned to celebrate the return of warm weather and birds to the marsh. With guided tours, nature trails, interactive exhibits, a café and much more, a visit to Oak Hammock Marsh is a great way to get outdoors this weekend and enjoy the wildlife!
The Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre is a partnership between Ducks Unlimited Canada and the Province of Manitoba. Every year, approximately 200,000 people visit the Interpretive Centre, which received a British Airways “Tourism for Tomorrow” award as the world’s “Best Environmental Experience”. The Interpretive Centre is open daily from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM and is located just 20 minutes north of Winnipeg at Highways 67 and 220.
For more information, please contact:
Sarah Hodges-Kolisnyk
National Communications Coordinator
Ducks Unlimited Canada
Tel: (204) 467-3270
E-mail:
s_hodges@ducks.ca
