On Saturday, October 4, 2008, dozens of Greenwings were witnessed descending upon Place Trail Marsh in St. Joseph County, Indiana. The warm weather provided a perfect setting for a mini-migration to this Ducks Unlimited (DU) engineered wetland complex. But it wasn’t the shallow water and abundant food which drew these Greenwings to the wetlands, but rather a large plaque with each of their names engraved upon it. This wetland complex nestled in the quite countryside of northern Indiana was the site of a Greenwing Legacy Dedication this past October. The names of one hundred Greenwing Legacies were engraved upon this cairn overlooking the approximately 190-acre wetland complex. The dedication event was attended by 72 Greenwings and parents, with speeches given by Evie Kirkwood of St. Joseph County Parks, Dick Blythe of the Indiana Grand Kankakee Marsh Restoration Project, Bret Plasters and Dave Neal of DU. The Greenwings were treated to a site tour where they were taught about wetland management for the benefit of waterfowl and other wildlife. This wetland complex was a perfect example of how DU and its conservation partners collaborate to provide a habitat legacy which will last for these Greenwings and future generations to enjoy.
Caption: DU Greenwings, volunteers, and staff at the October 4th Greenwing Legacy Dedication at Place Trail Marsh.