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| National Park Overview: |
 | The Delta National Wildlife Refuge is located 10 miles South of Venice, Louisiana along the Mississippi River. The area formed when a breach in the natural levee of the Mississippi River occurred in 1862 approximately 100 miles below New Orleans, Louisiana. The 48,000 acre refuge was purchased in 1935 with the primary purpose to provide sanctuary and habitat to wintering waterfowl. Waterfowl counts in excess of 400,000 ducks and geese present on the refuge during peak population periods have been recorded.
The marsh habitat on the refuge is classified as Paulustrine Emergent Wetlands. Two basic marsh zones occur within the habitat: fresh marsh nearest the main tributaries, and brackish marsh near the Gulf of Mexico. The fertile soils, vegetative composition, and shallow water wetland environment offers outstanding recreational opportunities such as fishing, wildlife observation, photography, hunting, and primitive camping. It provides protection and habitat to numerous plant and wildlife species including the following endangered and threatened species; the American Alligator, Brown Pelican, Arctic Peregrine Falcon and the Piping Plover. Untold numbers of passerine birds "song birds" and shorebirds use the refuge as a staging area during migration periods. |
| Nature of the Area: |
| ENDANGERED & THREATENED SPECIES ON THE REFUGE: American Alligator, Brown Pelican, Arctic Peregrine Falcon, Piping Plover
OTHER WILDLIFE SPECIES: Delta NWR supports a wide variety of wildlife species. Tens of thousands of wintering waterfowl take advantage of the rich food resources found in the delta. Large numbers of other bird species can be found on the refuge, with numbers peaking during the spring and fall migrations. Large numbers of wading birds nest on the refuge, and thousands of shorebirds can be found on tidal mudflats and deltaic splays. Numerous furbearers and game mammals are year-round residents, and the marshes and waterways provide year-round and seasonal habitat for a diversity of fish and shellfish species.
Thousands of shorebirds use the refuge as a wintering area and also as a resting and staging area during migration. Commonly observed species include greater and lesser yellowlegs, long-billed dowitchers, dunlins, western sandpipers, Wilson's plovers, killdeer and willets.
Raptors are a common sight on Delta NWR. The most commonly observed species include American kestrels, northern harriers, red-tailed hawks and turkey vultures. Black vultures, Cooper's hawks, merlins, red-shouldered hawks and sharp-shinned hawks have also been seen on the refuge. Ospreys are common winter visitors to the refuge.
Untold numbers of passerine birds "songbirds" utilize the refuge as a resting and staging area during the spring and fall migrations. Deer are frequently observed by the refuge staff on the natural pass banks, manmade spoil banks, and the marshes associated with these features. Swamp rabbits are found over much of the refuge, and populations appear to be stable. A number of furbearing species make their homes on Delta NWR. The most abundant of these is the nutria.
The marshes and waterways of the Delta NWR support a diversity of fish species. Speckled trout, redfish, flounder, blue crabs and shrimp are important saltwater species found on the refuge. Catfish, largemouth bass, and various sunfish species are found in the freshwater areas of the refuge. Delta NWR is an extremely important nursery area for both fresh and saltwater species.
HABITAT DESCRIPTION: Delta NWR was established in 1935 in the active delta at the mouth of the Mississippi River. It comprises approximately 48,800 acres of marshlands and open water in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana. The primary purpose of the refuge was to provide sanctuary and habitat for wintering waterfowl.
The marsh habitat on Delta NWR is classified as Palustrine Emergent Wetlands. Two basic marsh zones occur within the marsh habitat: fresh marsh nearest the main tributaries and brackish marsh near the Gulf of Mexico.
The fresh marsh is located primarily on mineral soil and to a very limited extent, on flotons (i.e., floating mats of emergent vegetation). Approximately 60% of the refuge consists of the fresh marsh zone. The predominant plants are delta duck potato (Sagittaria platyphylla), elephant ear (Colocasia antiquorum), wild millet (Echinocloa crusgalli), delta three-square (Scirpus deltarum), and roseau cane (Phragmites sp.). The marsh is tidally influenced and water levels fluctuate from a few inches to a foot or more. The fertile soils, vegetative composition and shallow water environment create a highly productive habitat for fish and wildlife. |
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| | Note to Park related businesses:
List your vacation cabin, weekend getaway, log cabin rental, romantic cottage, vacation home, resort, hotel, motel, bed and breakfast, country inn, campground, RV park, horseback riding stable, canoe livery, river rafting, outfitting, sporting goods store, guide service, RV rental or any other park related activity, park related attraction or park related service on Google or StateParks.com. (more).... |
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| Related Links: |
| Refuges - Yukon Delta - ... Refuge System National Page Text Version Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge The Yukon and Kuskokwim rivers dominate the ... Refuge Manager Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge P.O. Box 346 ... | | Bird Checklists of the United States - Bird Checklists of the United States Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge Bethel, Alaska Status Categories: P - Permanent ... Refuge Manager Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge P.O. Box 346 ... | | Bird Checklists of the United States - ... St. Elias National Park and Preserve -- Copper Center, AK (Printed 1993) Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge -- Bethel, AK Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge -- Fairbanks, AK (Printed 04/98 ... | | AlaskaJourney.com / Paul Otteson / Alaska: Adventures in Nature / Alaska Travel - A Complete Guide to Alaska ... Tikchik State Park Togiak National Wildlife Refuge Dillingham Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge Bethel Seward Peninsula Nome & Vicinity Bering Land Bridge National ... | | Eruk's Wilderness Tours: Southwest Alaska hunting and fishing outfitter. - From grizzly bear hunting to flyfishing for trout, Eruk's Hunts has a package for you. ... 1.3 million acre drainage on the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge, for which I have the exclusive guiding ... |
| Directions: |
| Refuge is located at the mouth of the Mississippi River. The subheadquarters is located in Venice, LA, on Highway 23 south. No vehicular access to the refuge--boat access only. |
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