Our Water Birds are Back!

One big benefit of ecological restoration is the quality habitat that you provide.  Transforming a boring turf grass shoreline to one that supports a diversity of native plants will turn a lot of heads.  It's like putting a bag of colorful jelly beans in front of an inquisitive 3 year-old child. Natural habitat grabs a lot of attention.  A wide range of animals like fish, frogs, and insects are attracted to the native flowers and grasses, and where you find these animals you also find a wonderful assortment of water birds. Right now, during the spring season, you will see many shoreline birds flocking back to your lake or pond. Here are a few interesting facts on some of these returning visitors you might see near your shoreline!

The Great Blue Heron is a stealthy predator, wading silently along the shoreline and hunting for fish and frogs, but they are also known to eat small mammals, snakes, and even other birds! Emergent shoreline vegetation composes their prime hunting grounds. They have a wing span of up to 70 inches and fly with their necks curled in towards their bodies (sandhill cranes fly with their necks extended outwards). Have you ever heard a call that sounded like a prehistoric flying dinosaur? That was probably a Great Blue Heron voicing its annoyance at being disturbed from its hunt.

 

Another common heron you might see in your restoration is the Green Heron. These are smaller than the Great Blue Heron but have devised ways to make up for their small size. They have been known to throw out "bait" like bugs or small pieces of vegetation to draw in small fish close enough for them to reach and gobble up.  This heron species is very common in ponds and other wet areas. Have you seen a tall white bird with a long neck and black legs wading along the shoreline edge? That is probably a Great Egret, another cunning hunter that sometimes herds small fish into shallow water so they can catch them more efficiently.

There are many different species of ducks that live in  Minnesota or migrate through in the spring and fall. Wood ducks, mallards, mergansers, buffleheads, teals, and many others make Minnesota their home. They rely on native plant species for food as well as cover to hide from predators. They also use native plants for nesting habitat. Our maintenance crews love spotting and counting the different types of ducks and their babies in the spring. Did you know that ducks often eat the seeds of sweet flag and blue flag iris? They also like to eat native plant tubers! Ducks and other waterfowl also eat insects along the shoreline that are closely associated with native plants.

Everyone recognizes the iconic Minnesota State bird, the common loon, from both its haunting call and distinct black and white markings. But did you know they can dive more than 200 feet deep? They are often found next to the shoreline where they can chase small fish that hang around emergent native plants. They also nest on shore in native sedge and grass patches.  Their specific nesting habits make shoreline restorations critically important for the success of their broods.

Geese, swans, cormorants, and pelicans, are some of the larger water birds you will see next to your shoreline. Geese and swans take advantage of their muskrat  neighbors and build their nests right on top of muskrat mounds.  Want to keep geese from using your lawn as a buffet and public bathroom? Planting tall native plants deter them from using your shoreline.  When they see taller vegetation, they inherently think of danger - because predators can be lurking in those plants. Natural buffers are a proven way to reduce geese on your property. 

Historically, cormorant colonies were hunted throughout Minnesota, mainly due to their reputation of eating too many fish. In truth, while large colonies can have an effect on fish populations, it is highly dependent on the lake.  Often, human fish harvest far outweighs the impact of cormorant colonies.

The American White Pelican, a moderate sized bird, was also threatened by human activity. They are mostly white but have black feathers on the tips of their wings. Fortunately, conservation efforts have brought their numbers back up. We are now seeing more and more nesting in Minnesota each year.  Hopefully, with additional shoreline habitat restoration efforts, nesting opportunities will be even more abundant, which will positively impact this species.

There are many other shoreline bird species in

 Minnesota that benefit from ecological restoration. They all have interesting traits and complex interactions with both native plants and other animal species. Bird watching is a wonderful pastime for any Minnesotan who appreciates wildlife. We are lucky to have so many species that call Minnesota home or visit us during the spring and fall migrations.

 Keep a lookout for these birds next time you are near a shoreline! Want to attract these types of birds to your shoreline? Visit our retail nursery to learn more about which plants will help make your shoreline a prime destination for these beautiful birds.