|
The onset of spring finds Camas Prairie Centennial Marsh alive
with activity. Warmer temperatures bring snowmelt and runoff
water through the area. This abundant water attracts migrating
waterfowl and shorebirds by the droves. Waterfowl are most
numerous and include species such as Canada geese, mallards,
gadwalls, American wigeon, northern pintails, green-winged,
blue-winged and cinnamon teal, northern shovelers, lesser
scaup, canvasbacks, redheads and ruddy ducks. Mallards,
gadwalls, American wigeon, northern pintails, cinnamon teal
and lesser scaup all nest on Camas Prairie Centennial Marsh
WMA lands.
Shorebirds are also frequent spring visitors and include the
majestic sandhill crane, willet, long-billed curlew, American
bittern, snowy egret, American avocet, black-necked stilt and
Wilson’s phalarope. Sandhill cranes, American avocets and
black-necked stilts commonly nest on the WMA.
A pair of golden eagles nest just off WMA property and are
often seen soaring high over the marsh. Prairie falcons nest
among the lava rock outcrops of the Mount Bennett Hills and
forage over all of Camas Prairie. Peregrine falcons hunt
waterfowl during spring months, and northern harriers,
Swainson’s and rough-legged hawks and American kestrels are
common to the WMA. Short-eared and great horned owls also
nest and hunt on Camas Prairie Centennial Marsh WMA.
Sage grouse and gray partridge inhabit upland areas of Camas
Prairie, occasionally venturing into Centennial Marsh in dry
years. Blue grouse utilize Mt. Bennett’s lower foothills and
Camas Prairie in the spring, before migrating to high mountain
ridges for the summer months.
Songbirds inhabiting the area include most of the western
prairie species. The spring abundance of water attracts a few
additional species, some of which reside on the WMA
throughout the summer. Barn, bank and violet-green swallows
hunt insects over Centennial Marsh. Red-winged and yellowheaded
blackbirds display and scold from cattail stands, while
the shrill call of the secretive marsh wren provides the only
evidence of its presence. Upland habitats are home to western
flycatchers, horned larks, mountain bluebirds, sage thrashers
and a host of other species.
The presence of large mammals often surprises WMA visitors.
Mule deer are abundant, utilizing the lush vegetation of
Centennial Marsh in the early morning and evening before
retreating to the comfort of the surrounding foothills. Small
populations of pronghorn antelope patrol the marsh in low
water years, grazing and resting. Nearly 500 elk summer in the
Soldier Mountains north of the WMA, wintering on the South
Fork of the Boise River and occasionally on the Camas Prairie
fringe. Moose, first introduced to the Soldier Mountains in
1986, are occasional visitors to the open spaces of Camas
Prairie Centennial Marsh WMA.
A number of smaller mammal species range over the WMA,
including mink, muskrat, beaver, raccoon, skunk, red fox,
coyote and badger. Nuttall’s cottontail rabbits and white-tailed
jackrabbits also reside here, feeding on the lush grasses and
forbs of the marsh.
Reptiles and amphibians are infrequently seen over most of the
WMA. Gopher and common garter snakes inhabit upland areas,
while Pacific treefrogs and western toads are locally and
seasonally abundant in marsh areas.
|