Area: 308.24 km2
Latitude: 50.182 N
Longitude: 98.238 W
Delta Marsh is a vibrant wetland on the southern end of Lake Manitoba, north of Portage La Prairie, that acts as a migratory corridor and nesting grounds for many of Manitoba’s birds. Delta Marsh also provides staging and breeding habitat for migratory shorebirds which vary in abundance depending on water levels. One of the largest marshes in the Lake Winnipeg basin, the marsh is separated from the lake by a sand ridge covered with deciduous trees including green ash, Manitoba maple, hackberry, willow, and cottonwood. As well as being recognized as an IBA, the marsh is also the site of two game bird refuges and the Clandeboye Special Conservation Area for Piping Plovers, and is designated as a wetland of national importance by the Convention on Wetlands.
A wide variety of birds can be seen at Delta Marsh. Look for waterfowl, shorebirds, and Le Conte’s Sparrows on the edge of the marsh. Ruddy Turnstones, Semipalmated Sandpipers, and Least Sandpipers congregate here in large numbers. Thousands of Franklin Gulls and Ring-billed Gulls have been observed. Large concentrations of herons (Great Egret, Great Blue Heron, and Black-crowned Night Heron) gather in the marsh interior. Eastern Whip-poor-wills can be heard in the evening and after dark, especially during a full moon.
The west side of the marsh is periodically flooded by the Portage Floodway (a flood control structure), resulting in excessive siltation and vegetation growth. Other threats to the surrounding area include pressures to develop additional cottage sites and recreational facilities on nearby Lake Manitoba beaches. Common Carp, an invasive species in Manitoba, damage the marsh by dredging up sediment which stunts the growth of wetland plants. Ducks Unlimited Canada undertook a carp exclusion project at Delta Marsh that aimed to reduce the number of carp in the wetland by using bar screens. St. Ambrose Provincial Park is also located in the IBA, where recreational activities take place that could disrupt nesting birds unless managed.
See below for maps on where to find birds, stories relating to Delta Marsh IBA, and priorities for monitoring.
Where to bird:
- St. Ambrose Provincial Park
- Delta Beach and the beach ridge
- Portage Creek crossing HWY 227
- Observation tower off of Cherry Road near Delta Beach
- The Twin Lakes Beach area including Meindl Park (along Twin Lakes Beach Road)
- Delta Marsh sign and boat launch on PR 240
Much of Delta Marsh IBA is a provincial Wildlife Management Area with public access. Click here for more details.
When to bird:
- Early spring and late fall: look for Horned Grebe, Common Loon, Tundra Swan, Greater Scaup, Bald Eagles, and Golden Eagles
- May: look for migrating warblers and Western Grebes conducting their mating “dances”
- Summer: look for breeding birds including Western Grebe, Franklin’s Gull, various swallow spp., Canvasback, Blue-winged Teal, Mallards, Gadwall, and American White Pelicans
