Hamden Slough National Wildlife Refuge
Encyclopedia
Hamden Slough National Wildlife Refuge is an area in Minnesota
, United States
. Eastern Hardwood
forests stretching from the Atlantic seaboard
give way to the western prairie
at the area, near Audubon, Minnesota
. Prior to settlement, its diverse vegetation was attractive to wildlife: waterfowl
, upland birds, bison
, wolves, and other prairie wildlife. When fully restored, the refuge will provide the largest contiguous block of wetland prairie habitat in the region, encompassing nearly 6000 acres (24.3 km²).
The station's objective is to restore 3000 acres (12.1 km²) of wetlands and 2250 acres (9.1 km²) of upland grass. This will provide resting and nesting cover for 219 species of migratory and nesting birds. Currently, waterfowl, shorebirds, neotropical migratory songbird
s, and birds of prey
rely on the shallow water and prairie habitat that has been restored on the refuge.
During the last six years, refuge habitat restorations have resulted in an increase in shorebird and prairie songbird populations. This has generated opportunities for wildlife-dependent recreation and serves as an educational model for land and watershed stewardship. Approximately 50% of the private property within the refuge's future boundary has been acquired from willing sellers.
Funding to acquire land and fully develop the refuge's infrastructure is expected to be near $10,000,000. Approximately 15–20 years of work is anticipated to complete the refuge.
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Eastern Hardwood
Hardwood
Hardwood is wood from angiosperm trees . It may also be used for those trees themselves: these are usually broad-leaved; in temperate and boreal latitudes they are mostly deciduous, but in tropics and subtropics mostly evergreen.Hardwood contrasts with softwood...
forests stretching from the Atlantic seaboard
Atlantic Seaboard
The Atlantic seaboard watershed is a watershed of North America along both*the Atlantic Canada coast south of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence Watershed &*the East Coast of the United States north of the watershed of the Okeechobee Waterway....
give way to the western prairie
Prairie
Prairies are considered part of the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome by ecologists, based on similar temperate climates, moderate rainfall, and grasses, herbs, and shrubs, rather than trees, as the dominant vegetation type...
at the area, near Audubon, Minnesota
Audubon, Minnesota
Audubon is a city in Becker County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 519 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and 1.69% is water.-Demographics:...
. Prior to settlement, its diverse vegetation was attractive to wildlife: waterfowl
Waterfowl
Waterfowl are certain wildfowl of the order Anseriformes, especially members of the family Anatidae, which includes ducks, geese, and swans....
, upland birds, bison
Bison
Members of the genus Bison are large, even-toed ungulates within the subfamily Bovinae. Two extant and four extinct species are recognized...
, wolves, and other prairie wildlife. When fully restored, the refuge will provide the largest contiguous block of wetland prairie habitat in the region, encompassing nearly 6000 acres (24.3 km²).
The station's objective is to restore 3000 acres (12.1 km²) of wetlands and 2250 acres (9.1 km²) of upland grass. This will provide resting and nesting cover for 219 species of migratory and nesting birds. Currently, waterfowl, shorebirds, neotropical migratory songbird
Songbird
A songbird is a bird belonging to the suborder Passeri of the perching birds . Another name that is sometimes seen as scientific or vernacular name is Oscines, from Latin oscen, "a songbird"...
s, and birds of prey
Bird of prey
Birds of prey are birds that hunt for food primarily on the wing, using their keen senses, especially vision. They are defined as birds that primarily hunt vertebrates, including other birds. Their talons and beaks tend to be relatively large, powerful and adapted for tearing and/or piercing flesh....
rely on the shallow water and prairie habitat that has been restored on the refuge.
During the last six years, refuge habitat restorations have resulted in an increase in shorebird and prairie songbird populations. This has generated opportunities for wildlife-dependent recreation and serves as an educational model for land and watershed stewardship. Approximately 50% of the private property within the refuge's future boundary has been acquired from willing sellers.
Funding to acquire land and fully develop the refuge's infrastructure is expected to be near $10,000,000. Approximately 15–20 years of work is anticipated to complete the refuge.