Area: 116.66 km2
Latitude: 50.566 N
Longitude: 98.091 W
Near Lundar and situated on the southeastern shore of Lake Manitoba, Marshy Point IBA is comprised of numerous lakes and freshwater marshes, deciduous forest, and native grassland habitat. This IBA hosts globally significant concentrations of waterfowl and both nationally and continentally significant congregatory species. Western Grebe are present in a globally significant concentration during summer, with 2,400 nests recorded in 1979, and 250 Black-crowned Night-Heron nests were recorded in the same year. The Tall Grass Prairie population of Canada Geese migrates through this in significant congregations during fall. The area is also notable as a stopover site for migratory shorebirds including sandpiper and phalarope spp.
Annual bird census surveys have been conducted along established routes within Marshy Point IBA since 2015. These routes are accessed via the East Meadows Ranch and, in some years, additional surveys are conducted along Bennet Road (Road 106N) to the east. In total, 144 unique species have been recorded within the Marshy Point IBA during census surveys. However, fewer total birds and unique species were recorded during census surveys in recent years. Notably, shorebird species including the Hudsonian Godwit and Lesser Yellowlegs (both listed as Vulnerable/Threatened) were scarce in recent years. Waterbirds that nest in wetlands or adjacent to open water including the Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Pied-billed Grebe, and Ruddy Duck were also less abundant during recent surveys. Western Grebe numbers declined during 2019–2024 but greater numbers were recorded during surveys in 2025.
Manitoba’s Interlake region is facing increasingly dry spring and summer conditions, including “Exceptional” drought throughout June–August 2021, the highest drought classification used by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (see the department’s monthly drought map). Several years of drought conditions may have produced abnormally dry spring and summer habitat at Marshy Point, contributing to declining numbers of waterbirds.
See below for maps on where to find birds and information relating to Marshy Point IBA
