Waterfowl production areas are grasslands and prairie wetlands purchased and managed for breeding waterfowl and hunting. The most common duck species found on the Litchfield Wetland Management District is the mallard. Mallards are readily visible on district wetlands during spring (March-May) and fall (July-November) migration periods. They use the shallow wetlands to form pair bonds and become more secretive as the hen initiates nesting and incubates her clutch of eggs (April-July). The drake usually abandons shortly after the hen has laid the last egg of the clutch. Broods of ducklings begin to appear on district wetlands around mid-May.
 

The blue-winged teal is another abundant nesting ducks found on Litchfield Wetland Management District. This small duck is named for its pale blue and white patch on the upper wing that is visible during flight. They are most abundant on district wetlands during spring (March-May) and fall (August-September) migration periods. The blue-winged teal is considered a “dabbling” duck as pairs and small groups up-end (rear in the air) while feeding to reach submerged vegetation instead of diving for their food. They are long distance migrants as some head all the way to South America for the winter.
 

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is entrusted with conserving and protecting migratory birds. One particular group of birds in special need of conservation is members of the grassland bird community. These are species such as western meadowlark, marbled godwit, sedge wren, grasshopper sparrow and northern harrier that rely on grassland habitats to nest and raise their young. In the past 25 years, grassland bird populations have declined in North America more than any other group of birds. In Minnesota, the grasshopper sparrow has suffered a 95% population decline from 1997 – 2011. This is partly due to on-going loss of grasslands. Grassland bird species are present on district lands from March – November.

A priority resource of the Litchfield Wetland Management District is tallgrass prairie habitat. As the name implies, prairie habitat is dominated by native grasses. These grasses, often three to six feet tall, originally covered large portions of midwestern North America. Less than 1% of Minnesota’s original tallgrass prairie remains. The most dominant species that define the sea of tall grass include big bluestem, Indian, and switch grass. In addition to grasses, prairies are alive with wildflowers or forbs (herbaceous plants other than grasses or sedges). The oft colorful native wildflowers include the purple hues of such species as purple coneflower and blazing star, to the yellow and orange tones of goldenrod, puccoon and butterfly milkweed. The flowers provide a food source in the form of nectar for a plethora of insects, while their stalks, stems and leaves support overwintering and larval forms of butterflies and moths.

Another priority habitat of the district is prairie pothole wetlands. Roughly half of Minnesota’s original wetlands have been lost to drainage or filling. These wetlands, consisting of marshes, wet meadows, and fens, were originally scoured out by glaciers that moved through the region over 10,000 years ago. The district is on the southeastern edge of the prairie pothole region, which is often called the “Everglades of the Prairie” due to the dense, shallow wetlands that once dotted the landscape. This region produces the majority of North America’s ducks leading to the region being dubbed as America’s “duck factory”.