Wetlands are for the Birds

DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge in Missouri Valley, Iowa, serves as a stopover for migrating waterfowl, including wood ducks (Aix sponsa). Credit: Dave Menke/USFWS

Wetlands and birds are inextricably linked - wetlands are homes and migration refueling places for one third of all bird species. Among the most productive ecosystems in North America, wetlands are biological “factories” of energy-rich resources vital to our birds. Many migratory birds stop on wetlands on the way to their winter or summer homes. If you visit a wetland in the fall or spring, you could see hundreds or even thousands of them.

International Migratory Bird Day, which takes place on the second Saturday in May each year, celebrates the incredible journeys of migratory birds between their breeding grounds in North America and their wintering grounds in Mexico, Central and South America. The event encourages bird conservation and increases awareness of birds through hikes, bird watching, information about birds and migration, public events and a variety of other educational programs.

Federal Duck Stamps are a vital tool for wetland conservation. Ninety-eight cents out of every dollar generated by the sales of Federal Duck Stamps goes directly to purchase or lease wetland habitat for protection in the National Wildlife Refuge System. To date, more than 5 million acres of wetlands have been purchased using more than $650 million in Duck Stamp revenue.

Waterfowl are not the only wildlife to benefit from the sale of Federal Duck Stamps. Numerous other bird, mammal, fish, reptile and amphibian species that rely on wetland habitats have prospered.

The North American Wetlands Conservation Act provides matching grants to organizations and individuals who have developed partnerships to carry out wetlands conservation projects in the United States, Canada and Mexico for the benefit of wetlands-associated migratory birds and other wildlife.

What Are the Economic Values of Wetlands?

	The Pocomoke River watershed in Eastern Maryland holds many important wetland areas critical to Federal Trust Species, which include migratory birds (threatened and endangered species), inter-jurisdictional fish, marine mammals and other species of concern. Credit: Leopoldo Miranda/USFWS

Wetlands have many economic values to our nation, our communities and to individuals. Wetlands are important for flood control, acting as buffers to absorb and reduce damage caused by flood waters. They help to remove pollutants from water, cleaning our streams and lakes and reducing the cost of treating our drinking water.

Wetlands are important to our multi-billion dollar commercial fishing industry, providing a home to many species of fish and shellfish during their life cycles. Wetlands are great spots for fishing, canoeing and hunting, activities that add to our economy and are a source of tourist dollars as well.