Grand River Marsh Wildlife Area Wisconsin

Adeline’s House of Cool is a leisurely walk, casual bike ride, or brief drive from the Wildlife Paradise of the Grand River Marsh Wildlife in Wisconsin, a 10,000-acre complex of marsh, grassland, oak savanna, river, and woodlots. It is a magnet for migrating waterfowl and is home to over 200 bird species.

Grand River Marsh Wildlife Area has extensive marshes attracting herons, Osprey, and the Double-crested Cormorant, as well as trails to hike, canoe, and kayak landings, making it a nature-loving paradise for people too.

Within the Grand River Marsh Wildlife Area is the Fountain Creek Wet Prairie, a large, low-lying grassland in the marsh basin. Wet prairie is uncommon and characterized by prairie cord grass, blue-joint grass, and mountain mint. The property’s bird list includes Sandhill Cranes, Northern Harriers, Sedge Wrens, Horned Larks, and Bobolinks.

Exploring the Grand River Marsh Wildlife Area

Why does the Grand River Marsh Wildlife Area have an IBA designation?

An Important Bird Area (IBA) is a site that provides essential habitat to one or more species of breeding or non-breeding birds. Sites may vary in size but are usually discrete and distinguishable from surrounding areas in character, habitat, or ornithological importance. They may include public or private land. Site boundaries may be natural (rivers, watersheds) or human-made (roads, property boundaries). In general, an IBA should exist as an actual or potential protected area, with or without buffer zones, or should have the potential to be managed in some way for birds and general nature conservation.

Grand River Marsh Wildlife Area winter adventures

Winter brings wonderful hiking, cross-country skiing, or snowshoeing adventures capped over relaxing in our 20-foot hot tub. While the marsh may be covered in ice and snow, it is not devoid of birdlife during the depths of winter. Common winter birds of the marsh include northern harriers, red-tailed and rough-legged hawks, snowy owls (occasional), Lapland longspurs, snow buntings, and horned larks.