Delta

Delta Marsh Birding Festival

Delta Marsh is an area of Manitoba located at the southern edge of Lake Manitoba , about 100km northwest of Winnipeg . It is one of the largest wetlands in North America , is designated officially as a Wetland of International Significance, a Heritage Marsh, and an Important Bird Area. In its heyday, Delta Marsh attracted people from all over the world and from all walks of life. Generations of farmers, fishermen, hunters and trappers who lived close to the marsh found themselves in the company of waterfowlers from the British royal family, and later, movie stars, television personalities and even astronauts. Delta is also known for its abundant wildlife viewing opportunities, and in particular, vast numbers and diversity of birds.

The Delta Marsh Birding Festival originated in 1999, to showcase this wonderful area with the birding community. It is educational, fun and gives us a chance to celebrate the wonderment of birds with all ages and abilities of bird watchers and nature lovers. We have guided van and walking tours, bird banding - which gives the birder a chance to see birds up close and personal, guest speakers with the banquet and fish fry, silent auction and lots of birds. Over one hundred bird species have been observed over the weekend, which is timed to coincide with spring migration. Sharptail grouse dancing grounds, upland habitats, lake and beach, tall grass prairie and marsh provide excellent habitats to find your favorite bird.

Help us celebrate International Migratory Bird Day in May. Join fellow birders for this celebration of bird life. You will be glad you made the trip!

For more information please contact:

            Heidi den Haan

            Delta Marsh Birding Festival

            Box 38, R.R.#2

            Portage la Prairie, Manitoba,  R1N 3A2

            Phone: (204) 857-8637

            Fax: (204) 857-4683

            Email: hdenhaan@cc.umanitoba.ca

            Website: www.dmbo.org/festival

Marshes Provide Wildlife Viewing Opportunites

Delta Marsh is one of North Americas finest and largest marshes. With its immense size of 52,000 acres, it provides the photographer or bird/wildlife watcher with abundant opportunities to explore and appreciate these unique environments.

To provide those with a growing interest in these hobbies or the advance naturalist Delta Marsh offers many sites that can be easily accessed. Essentially three dispersed sites can be visited at various times of the year. These sites are found at St. Ambroise, Delta and the Assiniboine Diversion.

The Eastern area boasts the wonderful St. Ambroise Park. This is a provincial park which can be accessed during the camping season. The Sioux Pass walkway provides access to the marsh and hiking along Lake Manitoba west to Clandeboyne Channel. Excellent birding is available in both areas. For Park information phone: (204) 243-2418

The central Delta village area is the site of the Delta Waterfowl & Wetlands Research Station. A Self-guided interpretive trail was established in 1998; it features a winding walkway with access to viewing the ponds of the station and the marsh to the South. It is open year round and has an elevated lookout tower giving a panoramic view of the marsh and beach ridge. Delta is also home to the Delta Marsh Bird Observatory which is Manitoba's only long term bird banding station. This organization along with the University Field Station offers Manitoba's only Birding festival each May. The four-day festival offers tours, lectures, banquets and canoeing trips through the marsh.

For information phone: Delta Waterfowl & Wetlands Research Station (204)239-1900.

At the Western edge of the marsh near the Assiniboine Diversion is located the University Field Station. This educational facility is open to the public year round and offers many public workshops in a variety to topics. These include: A Fall Elderhostel, GPS/GIS, winter survival/Arctic lifestyles, photography and kayak and canoe touring. The station is residential in nature with accommodation (which includes the marsh landmark-Mallard lodge) and meals available for groups of up to 60 persons. Environmental and educational related groups are hosted by the station every year. The station is run through the Faculty of Science at the University of Manitoba. For information phone: University Field Station (204) 857-8637.

Did you know?

*A regular visitor to Delta Marsh was Clark Gable, making his first duck-hunting trip here in 1938.