Site Description
This IBA encompasses Grand River Marsh State Wildlife Area as well as the western two-thirds of Lake Puckaway. The site contains extensive, high-quality wetland habitats including emergent marsh, sedge meadow, wet prairie, and open bog. Oak barrens, oak forest, and planted grasslands are found in the uplands.
Ornithological Importance
This IBA hosts good populations of many priority grassland, wetland, and shrub birds. Henslow’s sparrow, grasshopper sparrow, bobolink, Eastern meadowlark, blue-winged teal, sedge wren, American bittern, black tern, Forster’s tern, great egret, Virginia rail, red-headed woodpecker, willow flycatcher, brown thrasher, and field sparrow all breed here. The site supports significant concentrations of waterfowl, shorebirds, waterbirds, and landbirds during staging and migration, including thousands of sandhill cranes and tens of thousands of swallows.
Grand River Marsh, photo by Jim Holzwart