Winter in the La Crosse Marsh Migratory Birds

As temperatures What Is the Mississippi Flyway? drop the water in The Mississippi Flyway is a route many the marsh will birds use to migrate from their breeding freeze over but grounds in North America to their wintering many creatures grounds in the south. will still be active Photo by John Sullivan Over 325 species of birds migrate every Active winter birds: year and many can be seen in La Crosse.

• Northern Cardinal • Owls The brightly colored wood

• Downy Woodpecker • Bald Eagles duck uses the La Crosse • Blue Jay • Hawks marsh as a breeding spot Active winter mammals: and can often be seen with the mallard duck,

• Muskrats • Foxes which calls the La Crosse Photo by Edward Jones • Mink • River Otters m arsh home all year.

Animal Adaptations The American White Pelican is one species Created by: Erin Merklein Multiple animals have found ways to that uses the Flyway to migrate from deal with the harsh temperatures and Canada to the southern states. They often low food resources of winter. make a stop around the La Crosse area in Photo by John Sullivan the Mississippi River. Inland Freshwater Marsh Reptiles and Amphibians: These animals will often burrow in mud or To view the Flyway Cam and see live This wetland ecosystem remains sand- some even freeze in the ice. footage of the Mississippi River, open the QR code below. waterlogged at all times and

Bats and Groundhogs: Considered floods in wet seasons. true hibernators, these mammals’ temperatures drastically drop, and This system protects and they decrease their heartrate up to improves water quality, provides 95%. a habitat for many species, and

Photo by John Sullivan stores floodwaters. Bees: The queen of bumblebee and Visit Friends of the Marsh on Facebook ground bee colonies will hibernate Using QR codes over winter. Other bees in the hive do www.facebook.com/friendsofthelacrossemarsh Open your camera app on not survive and alone / the queen will start your smart phone. Hold it a new colony in the over the QR code and a link spring. will pop up. Photo by Roger Averback

The Great Blue Heron Please pick up What’s that green stuff on the water? after yourself and Sometimes there may be a covering Found throughout the marsh, watch for bikers, of green on the water in the La these large long-legged birds runners or other Crosse Marsh that varies by season. populate the La Crosse area signage This is a mixture of duckweed, a during the summer. They are small floating plant, and filamentous often found in shallow waters algae. This is a source of food for waiting to quickly strike a fish many species. with their large sharp bills. Turtles Photo by Roger Averback These herons are solitary birds except for mating There are multiple species of turtles in the season when a mated La Crosse area. The most common pair will aggressively turtles include snapping turtles and guard their nest painted turtles. You will often together. The nests see turtles and other Photo by can be up to 100 feet Roger Averback reptiles basking in the sun in a tree and are built as they are cold blooded and use the environment to regulate their body together by the pair with the male gathering temperature. Photo by supplies and the female Nature-Pix building the nest. from Pixabay The Leopard Frog

These frogs may be hard to spot as they The North American Beaver are often camouflaged in their surroundings. They are regularly found From this spot you in shallow water or tall vegetation. Even can view the home if you don’t spot a leopard frog you may of the local beaver hear one during the springtime. To hear Photo by family located east their call, open your phones’ camera John Sullivan of the trail about and place it over the QR code. 50 yards out. These vegetarians are most known for being environmental engineers- Nutrient Problems that being they change their High levels of nitrogen and phosphorus environment to better suit their The Bald Eagle can lead to the growth of thick surface needs by damming Photo by Steve Raubenstine from mats of duckweeds or filamentous the flow of water. Pixabay Here you will find a lookout area with telescopes algae. These mats will block sunlight and To watch a video where you may be able to spot bald eagles. These large carnivores at one time only had around 400 reduce surface aeration. These conditions of beavers building breeding pairs across the United States. can lead to low dissolved oxygen levels a dam open the Fortunately, with help from the Endangered Species which may contribute to summer fish QR code. Act, bald eagle populations are healthy again. kills.