Luther Marsh birding

Location

Located in the northern portion of the Grand River watershed, the Luther Marsh Wildlife Management Area is  jointly owned and managed by the GRCA and the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry.

Background

The area is designated a Provincially Significant Wetland, a provincially significant Life Science Area of Natural and Scientific Interest, and a Nationally Important Bird Area. Luther Lake is one of the GRCA's managed reservoirs.

The wildlife management area supports a variety of habitats, including forest, wetland, and grassland habitat. All four major wetland types (bog, fen, swamp and marsh) are represented here. Lake access is permitted after July 31.

Number of species

So far, 264 bird species have been recorded at Luther Marsh, including 32 species of waterfowl, 27 warbler species, and 30 shorebird species.

Approxomately 170 species have been observed during the breeding season.

Noteworthy species

• Waterfowl and shorebirds are abundant during spring and fall migration; a variety of species stop to rest and feed, including mallard, American black duck, wood duck, American widgeon, and northern pintail.
• Least bittern, black tern, Virginia rail, sora, marsh wren, and pied-billed grebe can be seen or heard on the lake and throughout the cattail marsh areas during the breeding season.
• Great blue herons and ospreys nest regularly on Luther Lake and the Monticello wetland.
• During fall migration, great egret and sandhill crane are abundant, particularly in the sanctuary zone located at the north end of the lake.
• Black-crowned night heron and common loon are typically observed during fall migration, although the latter breeds occasionally on the lake.
• Grassland species that breed in the area include bobolink (threatened), eastern meadowlark (threatened), grasshopper sparrow (special concern), and clay-colored sparrow.
• Large raptors such as bald eagle, northern harrier, and occasionally rough-legged hawk may also be seen during most seasons.
• Winter residents include snow bunting, purple finch, white-winged crossbill, common redpoll, and common raven.
• The Wylde Bog area still possibly supports one of Ontario's southernmost breeding populations of Lincoln's sparrow. It is not clear that Le Conte's (a species that prefers marshy or wet meadows) and Henslow's sparrow (a grassland species) still breed within the area.
• Non-breeding and vagrant species recorded at this site in recent years include snow goose, American white pelican, scissor-tailed flycatcher, and dickcisssel.