An Introductory Guide to Wetland Plants Important to Waterfowl and Marsh Management in Central New York by Michael L
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
An Introductory Guide to Wetland Plants Important to Waterfowl and Marsh Management in Central New York by Michael L. Schummer Roosevelt Waterfowl Ecologist Roosevelt Wild Life Station SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Disclaimer: This is not a complete guide to the wetland plants of New York, but a list of plants commonly occurring in managed and unmanaged wetlands that are 1/ food for waterfowl and other seed eating birds, 2/ cover for invertebrates eaten by ducklings and other fish and wildlife, and 3/ invasive plants that often require control to ensure a diversity of native plants can flourish. This should not serve as an ultimate guide to wetland plant management. Always follow herbicide labeling and regulations. Always obtain the proper permits before conducting wetland management activities. Introduction: In my experience, few waterfowl enthusiasts (birders and hunters) fully understand the diversity of plants used by waterfowl for food and cover. My intent is to provide a VERY basic introductory guide to these plants and descriptions about their identification and management. In Marsh History, I provide some historical context about the loss of wetlands in the central New York region and why management of wetlands are critical to ensure quality habitats are available for migratory waterfowl. In Important Wetland Plants as Food, I cover the most common plants producing seeds, tubers, and vegetation eaten by waterfowl. Here I express the utility of annual plants in producing an abundance of food for waterfowl because these plants DO NOT return the next year from their roots; their only way of continuing to exist is from their production of seeds that must germinate the following year. As such they put an abundance of energy into producing many seed which waterfowl exploit as high-quality foods. Perennial plants produce about 1/10th the seed of annuals because they will regrow the next year from their roots. In Other Plants, I include those not used at all or primarily as food, but that provide other benefits to waterfowl. In Invasive Plants, I describe control measures. In Agricultural Crops, I describe the utility and drawbacks of crops as supplemental feed for some species of waterfowl. In Management Techniques, I briefly describe methods used to produce an abundance of natural foods for waterfowl. Montezuma Marsh History: With greater than 4 Million Duck-Use-Days, the Montezuma Marsh is among the most significant migration stops for waterfowl in the Atlantic Flyway. As such, the Montezuma Marsh was the Audubon Society’s first ever globally significant Important Bird Area to be designated. In 1822, the initial Erie Canal was finally able to be constructed through the densely vegetated and expansive Montezuma Marshes. The Erie Canal began the drainage of the marshes through the Seneca and Oswego Rivers and onto Lake Ontario. However, constriction at Jack’s Reef just to the east of Montezuma did not allow for greater drainage and substantial modification of the regions marshes until the mid-1850’s when the Canal Enlargement Plan was enacted. Prior to 1953, the outlet of Cayuga Lake was narrow and congested with wild celery (a favorite food of Canvasback) during the growing season. Even following the slow release of snow melt out of Cayuga Lake into the Montezuma Marshes, the wild celery and other vegetative growth greatly constricted water flow through the marsh. Entering from the north, several other creeks also regularly refilled the Montezuma Marshes with spring and summer rains. Of these creeks, the Black Creek, that runs through the Vanderbilt Marsh before entering Crusoe Creek and eventually the Seneca River, is one of the largest watersheds in the Montezuma Marshes. An 1831 report to the New York State Assembly indicates that spring floods in the Montezuma Marsh were often not relieved until July, after which the water in Cayuga Lake continued to rise due to plant growth in the marsh that pushed water backwards in the system. Prior to the enlargement of the Erie Canal, the Montezuma Marsh was a “river of diverse vegetation”; or an area of ever shifting vegetation, water depths, river scouring, muskrat and beaver activity, and mudflats. This ever-changing marsh landscape produced an abundance of food and cover for a diversity of waterfowl and other wetland wildlife with areas of dense cattail (Typha spp.), flooded deep pools, winding marsh creeks, and drying mudflats. Waterfowl and other wetland wildlife were abundant in these diverse marshes. Prior to any development of the Seneca River, it is suspected that the water line of old shoreline of Cayuga Lake was at 380 feet above sea level; without water control, a shallow ever-changing marsh at the north end of Cayuga Lake would have encompassed much of what nowadays is the USFWS Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, NYSDEC Northern Montezuma Wildlife Management Area, and many private farms, residential homes, and hunt clubs. In 1857, expansion of the Erie Canal changed everything for the plants and animals of the Montezuma Marsh when work at Jack’s Reef along the Seneca River was completed to widen and deepen the channel. In most locations, the channel was cut down 9 -10 feet. Less than a mile to the west of Jack’s Reef, Cross Lake was lowered by 4 feet in two weeks alone, leaving an immense expanse of diverse marshes along the lake “high and dry”. Nowadays these lands along Cross Lake are filled with cottages that still regularly flood and even lower elevation areas are colonized by monotypic stands of flood tolerant silver maple. The Montezuma Marsh was easy to drain after Jack’s Reef was cut and the new lock and dam on the outlet of Cayuga Lake regulated flow of water into the marshes. It is estimated that these modifications, promulgated by the Barge Canal, in the name of progress, allowing 70% of the acreage in the Montezuma Marsh to be drained for farming and other development. The full function of the Montezuma Marsh was gone forever and the diverse marshes created by the historic, unrestricted water mark of 380 feet above sea level was erased. The clouds of waterfowl and general abundance of other wildlife that attracted Native Americans to the region were reduced to a fraction of their historic numbers. Fortunately, the muck soils of the Montezuma Marshes support a diversity of dormant wetlands seeds and can quickly be restored to desirable wetland habitat. In the Montezuma Marshes, $8.97M ($2.46M NAWCA, $6.41 partner match) has been invested to restore and conserve 8,701 acres. Wetland restoration, enhancement and protection are a substantial focus of the Atlantic Coast Joint Venture with federal, state, and private landowners participating conserve wetlands and adjacent uplands in the Montezuma Marshes. Common conservation partners in the Montezuma Marshes include USFWS, NYSDEC, Ducks Unlimited, and the Audubon Society. Important Wetland Plants as Food Annual Smartweed – several species, diverse, including Pennsylvania (usually pink Flower) and Pale Smartweed (usually white flower) Description: Annual, produces a hard flattened, lens-shaped black to brown seed. Colonizes drawn down areas that have not been de-watered for some time, often in a monotypic crop. Ok as waterfowl food but because of their hard outer shell the energy available to waterfowl is limited, many ducks eat these and defecate them (poop them out!) whole and undigested. Perennial varieties also exist and often grow in wetlands that have not been drawdown. Flowers at the surface; they produce SUBSTANTIALLY less food than annual smartweed. Responds to early season drawdown. Bidens, Sticktights, Beggarsticks – Several species Description: Yellow flower, seed sticks to your clothes, you hate these and your dog hates these in the marsh, but they are quality duck food. High in protein for a seed. Plant flowers later in summer/early fall, produces compass like yellow flowers. Important for pollinators in late fall when few plants are flowering. Responds to mid-season and VERY dry drawdowns at our northern latitude. Yellow Nutsedge, Chufa Description: Perennial, versatile waterfowl food that produces an abundance of tiny seed annually as well as tubers. Seeds are preferred by pintail and green-winged teal; the plant dies back in Fall and produces tubers that all waterfowl will eat by dig out of the marsh mud with their bills. Early to mid- season drawdown at northern latitudes. Disking will spread this plant by cutting up tubers. Barnyard Grass, Millet, Walter’s Millet Description: Annual weed, considered the world’s worst agricultural weed, millet is by far the most universal duck foods that can be produced by use of drawdowns in the marshes of central New York. These brown seeds eaten by nearly all ducks are produced in abundance on dense clustered seed Walter’s Millet heads. Early to mid-season drawdowns. Close relative of Japanese Millet but requires less care and will produce seed among an abundance of other quality wetland plants. Walter’s millet has long awns and red-seed head in appearance relative to common barnyard grass. Barnyard responds to early season drawdown and Walter’s mid-season, Walter’s millet matures much later only showing heads by late-August. Rice Cut Grass Description: A perennial that acts like an annual. Partial drawdowns facilitate colonization of this plant as it spreads by underground rhizomes that can sprout through shallow water. Produces an abundance of seed for a perennial, forms monotypic stands if wetlands that are continually partially drawdown and, as such, can reduce wetland plant diversity. This plant is often invasive where drawdowns are not completed properly across extended summer seasons. Seeds and plant have silica spike that can cut skin and stick to clothing and dogs. High energy seed for waterfowl that is easily digestible but does not produce as much seed as annual grasses (e.g.