Of the three types of wetlands, marshes seem to have more animal life. It is easy to find muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus), Great Blue Herons (Ardea herodias) and Painted Turtles (Chrysemys picta) in these very productive habitats.

Great Blue Heron standing on Muskrat House. Photo by Barry Cherriere.

Marshes are particularly important habitats for amphibians and water-dwelling reptiles because they contain both open water and vegetated areas. The Blue-spotted Salamander (Ambystoma laterale), Mudpuppy (Necturus maculosus), Northern Leopard Frog (Rana pipiens), Map Turtle (Graptemys geographica) and Northern Watersnake (Nerodia sipedon sipedon) all benefit from marsh homes.

Painted Turtle. Photo by Barry Cherriere.

Chorus Frog. Photo by Barry Cherriere.

Aquatic insects also thrive in this habitat, including the Giant Water Bug, also known as the Toe-biter (Lethocerus americanus), the Brown Water Scorpion (Ranatra fusca), mosquitoes (Aedes spp.), dragonflies and damselflies (Order Odonata) and midges (Family Chironomidae, which look a bit like mosquitoes but do not bite).

This abundance of insects, amphibians and plants is like a meal waiting to happen for birds, which is one reason why birds are so populous in marshes.

Green Heron catches Dragonfly. Photo by Barry Cherriere.

There are the herons, such as the Green Heron above (Butorides virescens) and their relatives the American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) and the rare Least Bittern (Ixobrychus exilis). Rails (e.g. Virginia Rail, Rallus limicola), and coots (e.g. American Coot, Fulica Americana) are on the rise in places like Cootes Paradise in Hamilton.

Marsh Wren. Photo by Barry Cherriere.

Smaller birds are there too, like the Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris) and the rare Blue-grey Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea).

Fish are also an important part of the marsh fauna. Northern Pike (Esox lucius), Yellow Perch (Perca flavescens), Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides), Pumpkinseeds (Lepomis gibbosus) and many minnow species are found in Cootes Paradise, with help from the fish barrier that keeps out invasive species like Carp and allows these native fish to survive and reproduce. During the open water seasons, you can watch the barrier in action as RBG staff remove the undesirable fish from the trap in the barrier.

Sketch for Fish & Wildlife Habitat Restoration Project in Cootes Paradise.

Swamps are also important habitat for birds, especially those that require cover and close proximity to wet areas.

The Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea) and the Northern Waterthrush (Seiurus noveboracensis) are just two of the many species that call the swamp their home. There is a nesting colony of Great Blue Herons in the Beverly Swamp area and these huge birds can be seen travelling down to nearby marshes to feed in the day and back again at night to roost and nest.

Mink. Photo by Barry Cherriere.

You can also find many of the same birds, amphibians, reptiles and mammals that you would in nearby Carolinian forests and marshes because swamp habitats have some of the features of both forest and marsh. Beaver (Castor canadensis), muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus), mink (Mustela vison) and White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are easy to find here.

Muskrat. Photo by Barry Cherriere.

Birds are more likely to occur where there is a central open pool area where aquatic insects provide food, but some Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) live exclusively in peatlands.