At Home in the Marsh

Complete this marsh scene by drawing in the animals pictured below. Then, identify the plants in the drawing by writing the correct name by each.

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Red-winged blackbirds nest in cattails and bulrushes. The males have bright red shoulder patches.

 

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Muskrats grow to be about 20" long. They build lodges out of cattails.

 

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Dragonflies patrol wetlands in search of smaller insects like flies and midges.

 

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Cattails are eaten by muskrats and provide nesting sites for many marsh birds.

 

 

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Avocets sweep their long bills through shallow water to capture insects and other tiny animals.

 

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Cinnamon teal are common ducks in the marsh. They are named for their reddish-brown color.

 

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Leopard frogs feed on many insects found in the marsh.

 

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Pondweed seeds can survive long periods of drought.

 

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Tiny midge larvae live underwater feeding on dead plants. Many animals eat midge larvae.

 

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Water boatman can fly and swim. These aquatic insects eat algae.

 

 

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Duckweed is a tiny floating plant eaten by ducks.

 

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Garter Snakes move easily on land or in water. They eat tadpoles, frogs and small fish.

 

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Bulrushes are plants that grow in water. Their seeds are food for ducks and other marsh birds.