Featured Species

The marshes of the refuge are divided into three units, providing habitat for a variety of waterfowl, wood ducks, trumpeter swans and Canada geese. Other birds that use this area are common terns, sandhill cranes, great blue herons, great egrets and double-crested cormorants. The large area provides an undisturbed location for these birds to nest, feed and rest. A water control structure structure
Something temporarily or permanently constructed, built, or placed; and constructed of natural or manufactured parts including, but not limited to, a building, shed, cabin, porch, bridge, walkway, stair steps, sign, landing, platform, dock, rack, fence, telecommunication device, antennae, fish cleaning table, satellite dish/mount, or well head.

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with fish passage fish passage
Fish passage is the ability of fish or other aquatic species to move freely throughout their life to find food, reproduce, and complete their natural migration cycles. Millions of barriers to fish passage across the country are fragmenting habitat and leading to species declines. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Fish Passage Program is working to reconnect watersheds to benefit both wildlife and people.

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was added to the largest unit. Local drainage water is passed into the wetland and water can flow in and out of the water control structure allowing the wetland to filter the water and assist in cleaning Lake Erie.

Cottonwood dune forests provide stopover habitat for migratory songbirds and locations for bald eagle nests. These habitats are globally rare. There are also areas of coast beach habitat, these areas are important for the plants that grow there and the birds that use them during migration. Large flocks of shorebirds, resting ducks and even songbirds are often seen along the beaches.

The area around the main fishing pond is mature willow and cottonwood trees providing excellent viewing of migrating songbirds in the spring. There are often eagles roosting in the trees. The parking lot is often a highlight of spring birding tours to this refuge.