News and Stories

Tomorrow is National Waterfowl Day, a day to celebrate our waterfowl and wetlands.

At Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden’s Bowyer Farm, we’ve created a shining example of the rich diversity that wetlands can provide. The 100-acre wetland that we established at the farm in 2012 now provides crucial habitat for thousands of migrating waterfowl in the spring, giving them a vital stopover so they can rest and feed before continuing their migration northwards. Bowyer also provides nesting habitat for ducks and geese as well for those species that choose to breed here. Canada geese, mallards, wood ducks, hooded mergansers and blue wing teal are all regular breeders in the marsh. Even a black bellied whistling duck has shown up at the property, typically a species found from Texas to Florida!

The richness of this environment at the farm also provides habitat for other species. With 211 species of birds seen on the property so far, it has become an important hotspot for not only waterfowl, but for sandhill cranes, warblers, raptors and a whole host of avian species. Salamanders, frogs, reptiles and many mammal species, including mink, also rely on this wetland habitat. The rich diversity of plant species also provides homes for a vast list of pollinators. It is this diversity that makes wetlands such an important part of the natural world.

Wetlands provide a rich habitat for wildlife, as well as water quality improvement, erosion control and flood protection. Ohio has lost 90% of its wetlands, so this restoration project is having a major impact upon the ecosystem.

To learn more about what’s happening at Bowyer Farm, listen to Brian Jorg, Cincinnati Zoo | Cincinnati Zoo Tales.