Wildlife and Protected Species
Mingo's primary goal is to protect wilderness resources and critical habitat for migratory waterfowl. Located in the center of one of the busy Mississippi Flyway, the refuge serves as an important resting and feeding area for migratory birds heading south.
In addition to resident waterfowl species, Mingo provides for migrating ducks, geese, shorebirds, gulls, terns, loons, grebes, pelicans, cormorants, herons, bitterns, ibises, rails, coots and swans. There are over 95 species of migratory waterfowl that have been seen at Mingo. Through year-round management of the water levels on the refuge, the feeding and resting requirements of migrating birds can be met. The refuge provides wintering habitat for over 150,000 ducks and 75,000 geese
Mingo also provides for other types of migratory and non-migratory avian species. Over 250 species of birds have been seen at Mingo. Included in this list are the peregrine falcon, endangered whooping crane and threatened bald eagle.
In addition to migratory birds, Mingo provides year-round habitat for a variety of other species. Due to the diverse habitat, Mingo is home for a wide variety of lowland swamp species and upland forest and field species. Mingo is home to over 38 species of mammals, 23 species of amphibians and 37 species of reptiles. Due to wilderness protection and inaccessibility to many areas of the refuge, mammals, amphibians and reptiles are abundant but seldom seen, remaining for the most part unspoiled by man's influence.
Read more about this topic: Mingo National Wildlife Refuge
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