improved wetlands habitat

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anthony m coons sr

Well-known member
Over the past 35 years I have lead a few hunting Clubs. My main agenda always was to try to improve the wetlands that surrounded us. Ducks Unlimited ,Delta Waterfowl and others do such a wonderful job with all the project they have. But sometimes the projects just have to be done by us the Sportsmen. Over these years we have tried our best to plant the right kind of food to attract and hold birds. Wild Rice, Wild Celery, Duck Potato, Sago Pond Plants, Bulrush. Smartweed, just to name a few. All these are fresh water plants and have to be planted in different levels of water. It harder it tidal water like the Hudson River. We have planted over ten thousand of these kind of plants over the years, Some years they take and other they don't just like a farmers crop. But when everything goes right. And there isn't any giant storms during the season. You can really see the differences in the birds in that area. The planting of these kind of plants work best in ponds , swamps, and, lakes. In rivers and big lakes where the ice flows. The roots get pulled out and you have to start all over come spring. But as a hunter and a down right duck nut. I feel like I'm given back to the birds. We also plant in a lot of areas where the birds can go and be safe. Any help or new advice would be very helpful. Thanks[;)]
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Your efforts are noble and a great example. I don't know the specifics of your planting locations, but you are absolutely correct that in a natural environment not all of your plantings will be completely successful. The best you can do is give your plants a fighting chance by understanding what conditions are best for their success. What time of year, location in the tidal zone and the amount of salinity your plants will take are all critical. Have you tried Spartina? It does well in varying degrees of salinity. It is commonly used in saltwater wetland remediation projects in the northeast, does well planted as plugs and will spread through rhizomes to create additional plants. You might also research some of the large remediation projects up there like Jamaica Bay for other ideas. Hope this helps.
 
Bob

Thank you for your kind words. Here in upstate NY we hunt on or around the Hudson River region. There are so many laws now telling you what you can an can't do. Back in the day! I use to take our club members into the bays and plant wild rice and celery and other natural plants to the river( AND THE PLANTS TOOK). Now days you try doing things without the State's approval you get arrested or fined. So what we do now is go to ponds , surrounding wetlands, that I know hold ducks. Where we are on the Hudson is fresh water. My club has worked with the feds and state agency before. Looking for ways to improve our wetlands. The big storms we have had over the past ten years has killed thousands of acres of natural food plots. Thanks for your post. Knowing that other like you care. Is a big step to bring our wetlands back to be the best they can be.
 
Fortunately, its what i do for a living:

First project I built, the first large scale salt marsh restoration in Alabama not associated with regulatory migitation requirements.
Recreated an eroded peninula, re-closed an embayment and restored 30 acres of marsh.
The amount of wading birds in this area at low tide is now incredible. The embayment winters redheads, bluebills and buffies. Hoping to get some mottled duck nesting too.



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This is the one we just finished in January, BP oil spill funded 50 acre salt marsh restoration project. Placed a breakwater along the south side to protect the remnant island. We should see mottled duck nesting once this one matures. Lots of clapper rails too.
Entering our first growing season, we will see how it goes!



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If some of your ponds have areas that get down to 4" fresh water or mud flats plant some barn yard grass / wild millet. Will reseed itself once established and ducks love it. Will sprout in 3" to 4" water. Plant about 25 to 30 lbs. per acre. Spring seeding and around 80 days till mature. If water can be drawn down in these ponds even better and reflood during season. Likes a damp footprint. In my area of Md. I plant BY grass first of july but don,t pull water off pond until last of april to help control weeds sprouting. Duck potateo may be a good option for 1' or slightly deeper water.
 
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Roy

Thank you for your input , I have a small pond on some land I own. I'll look into what you are telling me.It seems that I get more ducks. In the spring breading on my pond then I get during the fall. I guess my pond is more like a honey moon spot. Thanks again for your wisdom,
 
Carl

As always my friend thanks for your post. You should be very proud of yourself. Helping restore wetlands. Any help anyone of us can do to help the future of waterfowl is a wonderful thing. Don't get me wrong ! I care about today and whats good for me and my boys. But a wetland saved is a win for our great great, great, grand kids . Thanks again
 
I have a small pond and low area that I’m working on getting restored for planting and flooding for ducks. Hardest part is having the time, money, and equipment. I’ve done most of the work by hand with an axe and shovel. But to see ducks come to it will be worth the work.

Also have cleared a small place in the woods for planting high protein crops for the deer during their pregnancy and for the turkeys, enjoy watching the fawns and poults grow up.

Now I know why the ducks don’t want to come south anymore, you holding them all up Anthony lol.
 
Ben

I wish I had the power to keep them here lol. Sounds like your busy too in the off season. I have a small piece of land. I do lots for the deer and turkey also. I have a small bass pond(same pond as ducks go in) didn't want to sound rich. So I enjoy given back also. You will be like a young school boy when those ducks start hitting your pond. It sounds like your a hard working man. Good luck! send me picture of that first duck on your pond. I'll let a few pass threw for you .

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anthony m coons sr said:
Carl

As always my friend thanks for your post. You should be very proud of yourself. Helping restore wetlands. Any help anyone of us can do to help the future of waterfowl is a wonderful thing. Don't get me wrong ! I care about today and whats good for me and my boys. But a wetland saved is a win for our great great, great, grand kids . Thanks again
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And this I think is the key for all of us interested in conserving the resource. I hunt the same marshes season after season, as I'm sure most of us do, and I see the changes from sea level rise and wave runners etc.

Be part of the solution.
 
Bob

When I first started hunting, The only thing that went into the bays were hunters and fishermen in small boats. No harm ! now days you see everything going through the bays here in New York. A duck doesn't have time to breed it our bays. Ducks and geese are cased out of the bays all the time by the leaf watchers, kayaks and jet skies .Our State thinks putting nature trails around swamps and rivers is a good thing. During early season you see people walking right next to the shore where we are hunting. I hate it. I'm all for people seeing nature at it best. But they shouldn't be able to do it during hunting season. I laugh all the time when a jet skier goes into the bay and sucks up sand and mud. They can't understand why their engine doesn't run.
Anyway sorry for the rant. Good people will save the world. And Duck hunters are good people. Most of the time [;)]
 
anthony m coons sr said:
Bob

When I first started hunting, The only thing that went into the bays were hunters and fishermen in small boats. No harm ! now days you see everything going through the bays here in New York. A duck doesn't have time to breed it our bays. Ducks and geese are cased out of the bays all the time by the leaf watchers, kayaks and jet skies .Our State thinks putting nature trails around swamps and rivers is a good thing. During early season you see people walking right next to the shore where we are hunting. I hate it. I'm all for people seeing nature at it best. But they shouldn't be able to do it during hunting season. I laugh all the time when a jet skier goes into the bay and sucks up sand and mud. They can't understand why their engine doesn't run.
Anyway sorry for the rant. Good people will save the world. And Duck hunters are good people. Most of the time [;)]
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Your reminding me of the time the bird watchers canoeed into my goose decoys takeing pics and couldn,t understand how they got so close without them flushing! Probably biggest problem we who hunt our local river system experience is bass fisherman fishing thru the decoys. The polite ones will just ease by them 75 yds. and resume fishing w/ trolling motor like it really helps!
 
roy brewington said:
Your reminding me of the time the bird watchers canoeed into my goose decoys takeing pics and couldn,t understand how they got so close without them flushing! Probably biggest problem we who hunt our local river system experience is bass fisherman fishing thru the decoys. The polite ones will just ease by them 75 yds. and resume fishing w/ trolling motor like it really helps!
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I had exactly the same thing happen, except it was another hunter sculling my decoy spread. I was on shore with the boat hidden in a creek behind me. He was out in a boat on the point. We were both glassing before the tide got good. I saw him, thought he was looking at me, and gave a little wave. Thought he saw me. His boat disappeared up a channel out in the rice. I settled into the blind, got comfortable, and watched my decoys for 20 minutes or so with no action. And here comes a nice sculling boat up the channel heading straight for my decoys. I stood up and waved again, and he looked mighty sheepish when he saw me.

Guess the cover in my blind was good, though!
 
Roy

I'm sure just about everywhere now days have these problems. But we always are made out to be the bad guys. The guys that kill those little ducks. But without us! those wetland would be a trash bin for all those leaf peepers. Hunters fishermen and women pay the freight for those to enjoy the wetlands and the woods. Without our money the wildlife and the trees would be in a ton of trouble. Where is our respect and our love. To all those man and women that enjoy the outdoors never stop fighting for your rights. Take a child out and show them the way. Ducks, Geese and all wildlife can't fight for their self. Its up to us the Sportsmen and women to make sure our wetlands and full of life. And our woods are full of trees and game for the next generations to love and enjoy.
 
I've owned a couple of wetland ponds from 1 to 4 ft. deep. Instead of just broad casting the seed I also placed a handful in small brown paper bags and dropped them down a 4" tube made out of leach field pipe . We'd push the pipe into the bottom and use a plunger to push the bag into the mud and heel it in. I am just putting together an order for seed from Kester's for a small 5 acre pond. Spring is still a month out for us.
 
Kevin

When i plant sago pond plants and celery tubers. I use a cloth bag with a few plants in each with a nail to weight it down. With this I have really good success. Even in Hudson River with a tide. The wild rice I put out by hand then rack it into the ground in about six inches of water. I like your idea and would like to know more about it. Thanks for your post and time
 
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