If you’ve ever attended one of the wetland presentations that I give in communities across Wisconsin, you may remember my story about how a surprising predator/prey relationship can serve to remind us about connections in nature and how little we know about them. Here’s the short version of that story.
Both northern harriers and many duck species make their nests in low prairie and grass fields near wetlands. If you’ve conducted waterfowl nesting studies like I have over the years, I bet you’ve found harrier nests mixed in with the duck nests, commonly within a few feet of each other. That’s close quarters. But wait, don’t harriers eat baby ducks? Though it may be counterintuitive to many of us, it appears that nesting ducks may be seeking out opportunities near harrier nests, and that those nests near their predators may be more successful. Why? Because harriers are really good at protecting areas around their nests from egg-eating predators. Ironically, ducks have figured out that their nests are safer near harrier nests than in other locations. Sure, maybe the harriers eat a duckling or two, but overall, the benefits harriers provide by chasing away other predators outweighs the “harrier tax” of taking out a few ducklings. I’d argue that if you want healthy duck production, you need healthy harrier populations.
So why am I talking about this? This surprising nesting relationship is just one example of how little we understand the depth and complexity of wetlands and our natural world, despite centuries studying the world around us. When humans come in and remove wetlands or other features, the actions disrupt untold, complex interconnections between the earth, water, vegetation, animals, microbes, and everything else out there that modern Western science is just beginning to understand.
One tragic example of humans impacting the landscape is told in the latest video in our Tribal wetland program series. The video tells the story of how one action (albeit a very large action) has had cascading effects over the past 100 years, decimating ecological connections between the Lac Courte Oreilles people and their traditional and cultural resources. Some effects were less surprising than others—but I won’t tell you the whole story here; you’ll have to view the video. I will tell you, however, that the story ends on a hopeful note as we learn about the Tribe’s work to re-establish what was destroyed 100 years ago.
The exciting work being done by the Lac Courte Oreilles and by Tribal wetland programs in Wisconsin, regionally, and nationwide is guided by traditional knowledge they’ve developed through millennia. Tribal Nations are expanding their wetland programs and working to heal the relationships and connections they’ve had with wetlands since time immemorial. In Wisconsin, Tribes are also working to strengthen their long-standing relationship with manoomin, or wild rice. Kathleen Smith from the Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission shared more about this sacred connection and what is being done to help conserve and protect it.
Like the nesting relationship between ducks and harriers demonstrates, the natural world is complex, surprising, and full of the unknown. When we take time to observe and learn from nature—and to learn from others who have long and deep connections with nature—we can make better decisions and enrich our own experiences.
Related content
Wisconsin Tribes: Leading the way in protecting and restoring wetlands and watersheds
Manoomin/Wild Rice: The ecology and importance of a wetland treasure