Passion project creates birder’s paradise in Gananoque

Barb has a vision of her own – to improve the landscape and create more habitat for wildlife. Not long after taking ownership of the farm, she enrolled in the Environmental Farm Planning course, facilitated by Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA), and soon was studying soil maps and learning all she could about improving her land. As Barb discovered, at one point in the past there had been a natural wetland on the property. After learning that, Barb knew exactly what she wanted to do: restore wetlands to the property, as quickly as possible. 

Setting the stage: Seeking support 

With the idle farm fields home to at–risk bobolink and eastern meadowlarks, Barb sought financial assistance to support their vision for their property. She reached out to Mikayla Stinson, a conservation specialist at Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC), and learned funding was available from DUC as well as OSCIA, through the Species at Risk Partnerships on Agricultural Lands (SARPAL) program.  The O’Neills applied for the SARPAL funding with support from DUC and received word within a few months that they’d been approved. The additional funding from both organizations helped the O’Neills minimize their out-of-pocket expenses to construct their wetland. 

Work gets underway: Wetland construction  

Construction began on the 18.9-acre (7.63-hectare) engineered wetland in the winter of 2024. The work included the construction of an earthen berm and overflow spillway to help manage water levels as well as in-basin contouring to create variable depths that promote diverse vegetation. Once the wetland naturalizes, it will look as if it had been there all along.   

The O’Neill wetland is a prime example of how agriculture and wetlands can coexist. While the wetland and its buffer zone occupy roughly 19 acres (7.7 hectares), the remainder of the fields can be actively harvested. The nutrient runoff from the fields will be captured by the plants within the buffer zone as well as the wetland itself. The O’Neills will also be carrying out delayed cutting which means that they won’t be cutting any of the fields until after July 15 of each year. This is to allow birds the chance to successfully nest in and around the fields without disturbance.     

Witnessing results: If you build it, (the wildlife) will come 

While the wetland construction took just days to complete, it will take time to mature. Yet, wildlife and birds have already begun calling it home.  “I’m a birder, so watching new and unexpected species come to our wetland is a thrill,” says Barb. “Now we’re seeing ducks of all kinds, geese, deer, wild turkeys, tundra and trumpeter swans, green and blue-winged teals, black ducks and pintails. Recently, we were treated to the sight of shorebirds that normally spend their summers in the Arctic Circle: the American golden plovers. We’ve seen both lesser and greater yellowlegs too. It’s been such a wonderful surprise.” 

Grateful for how their wetland turned out and all the positive impacts it’s already had for waterfowl and wildlife, the couple encourages other landowners to consider creating wetlands on their properties.  

We’re so thankful for the privilege of being able to buy the property and to be in good health to witness the changes on the land with all DUC has done,” says Barb. “Ontario was once rich with wetlands and now it’s our responsibility to help return them to the landscape. It’s something that is very doable and with the help of DUC and their partners, it’s financially possible as well. You’ll never regret doing the right thing by bringing back wetlands.”