Door County wetland area prior to restoration work. - FWS photo by Gary Van Vreede

Door County wetland site after restoration work completed. - FWS photo by Gary Van Vreede

"If you build it, they will come" is the title of an article recently published in the Wisconsin Sportsmen's Digest, by a Door County landowner.

In the article the landowner explains how under the direction of Green Bay Field Office Biologist Gary Van Vreede, an area of marginal crop land on his property was transformed into six acres of valuable wetland habitat for wildlife. 

This Partners for Fish and Wildlife wetland habitat improvement project was completed in the summer of 2004 by plugging a ditch dug long ago to drain the site.  Native prairie grass cover was established on surrounding upland areas to provide desirable nesting habitat for migratory birds.

An avid duck hunter, the landowner reveals that in addition to waterfowl hunting in the fall, he and his family enjoy watching the ducks, geese, herons, egrets, cranes and frogs that inhabit the wetland during the spring and summer months. 

He wrote, "Each season continues to bring new discoveries in and around the wetland." He also stated that the wetland restoration project "has become one of the most enjoyable activities [he has] ever embarked on."