The vast prairies of our north central states and Canada are dotted with millions of lakes and ponds. Human activity has transformed much of this region into pasture land, cropland, towns and cities, but the rich prairie ponds and marshes that remain are vital breeding grounds for ducks, geese, and shorebirds.

Ice Age glaciers covered most of northern and central North America until about 10,000 years ago. As the glaciers receded they left a landscape pockmarked by "potholes." The potholes filled with water, forming countless lakes and ponds.

Warm weather, life-giving rain, and long daylight hours make the summer a rich and productive season at these latitudes. Summertime brings clouds of flying insects, teeming freshwater life, vigorous plant growth, and a generous supply of seeds and fruits, but these same areas are inhospitable to most birds in the winter.

Hundreds of thousands of waterfowl and shorebirds make an annual trek to rich prairie nesting grounds, then return to winter in the south. These migrations often follow traditional pathways called flyways.

Over 20 million waterfowl are killed annually by hunters, yet it is the loss of the pothole habitat that is threatening the populations of these birds. Over half of the original wetlands in the United States are gone - drained for agriculture or urban development. Many of the remaining wetlands have been ruined by overgrazing or flood control projects in surrounding areas.

Lush tropical rain forests circle the Earth at the Equator, blanketing parts of Central and South America (Amazon Basin). West Africa (Congo Basin), Southeast Asia, and the islands stretching to Australia.

Rain forests grow only in areas with lots of rain year round - 65 inches to over 200 inches each year. By comparison, Los Angeles receives an average of 15 inches annually. Because tropical rain forests are found at low elevations near the Equator, temperatures are high throughout the year. High humidity keeps the temperature hovering around 75 degrees both day and night.

Away from the harsh extremes of freezing cold and scorching desert heat, rain forests are truly a paradise for life. Rain forests occupy less than 2% of the earth's surface, yet 50% of all species may live here - over 5 million different kinds of plants and animals. Costa Rica, a country the size of West Virginia, is home to over 830 species of birds - more than is found in all of North America

Abundant sunlight, frequent rainfall, and warm, constant temperatures create a highly stable physical environment. This stability permits many different plants and animals to thrive in these emerald forests.

Each year up to 25 million acres of rain forest are slashed and burned to clear the land for crops and cattle ranching, and another 12 million acres are cut down for timber. Every minute we continue to lose an area the size of ten city blocks (50 acres). Many of the birds that spend their summer in North America migrate to the rain forests in Central and South America for the winter. Where will they go when the rain forests are cut down?

There is intense public interest in halting the destruction of the rain forests as they are important to the health of the entire planet. Strategies for preservation and replenishment include replanting the trees, allowing the land to rest between crops, selective timber cutting, increased scientific monitoring and research, and something we all can do to help - reduce, reuse, and recycle!

Select this text to learn more about different habitats and the kinds of plants that grow there.

Classroom Activities: Marsh Mural Backyard Birds