Blooming Grove, Pike County
Ducks Unlimited restored a retired stone quarry to a 30- acre wetland complex that can be managed as six separate units. Three of the units were settling ponds and can be used as deep-water habitat for brood rearing and survival.The other three impoundments are shallow moist soil wetlands, which can be drawn down in the summer months to encourage diverse plant growth and shorebird usage. Warm season grasses are planted in the 10-20 acres surrounding the restored wetlands that serve as dense nesting cover for waterfowl species and other grassland nesters such as wild turkeys, meadowlarks and bobolinks. Managing the wetland complex in this manner will allow a diverse number of species to utilize the wetland system. Currently, the project is seeing use from many waterfowl species and a resident pair of breeding osprey.