About
Oak Hammock Marsh is one of North America’s birding hotspots and a great destination for people of all ages. This 36km2
Wildlife Management Area features a restored prairie marsh, aspen-oak
bluff, waterfowl lure crops, artesian springs, some of Manitoba’s last
remaining patches of tall-grass prairie and 30 kilometers of trails for
you to explore.
This wetland is home to 25 species of mammals, 300 species of birds,
numerous amphibians, reptiles, and fish, and countless invertebrates.
During migration season, the number of waterfowl using the marsh during
migration can exceed 100,000 daily!
Services
This beautiful location offers ...
About
Oak Hammock Marsh is one of North America’s birding hotspots and a great destination for people of all ages. This 36km2
Wildlife Management Area features a restored prairie marsh, aspen-oak
bluff, waterfowl lure crops, artesian springs, some of Manitoba’s last
remaining patches of tall-grass prairie and 30 kilometers of trails for
you to explore.
This wetland is home to 25 species of mammals, 300 species of birds,
numerous amphibians, reptiles, and fish, and countless invertebrates.
During migration season, the number of waterfowl using the marsh during
migration can exceed 100,000 daily!
Services
This beautiful location offers the perfect setting for the award-winning
Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre’s many engaging and educational
programs. Open year-round, the Interpretive Centre welcomes school
groups and tourists for a variety of guided programs. The Interpretive
Centre also features a theatre, a scenic café, a gift shop, meeting
rooms, rooftop observation deck, and interactive exhibits.
History
The name “Oak Hammock” dates back to the early 1870’s. Settlers from
Lower Fort Garry and St. Andrews used to gather for community picnics on
an oak-covered knoll bordering “The Bog”. Its owner – Adam MacDonald –
called the heavily treed knoll “Oak Hammock” and the name was eventually
adopted for the whole area.
A less romantic theory is that the name is simply derived from “Oak
Hummock” – a term that is sometimes used to describe a raised stand of
trees. Whatever the origin of the name, the area became known as Oak
Hammock. The name became official with the opening of the Oak Hammock
post office, which was used until the early 1900’s.
In the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, the Provincial Government
acquired 3,450 hectares of land from local landowners with financial
help from the federal government’s FRED program (Fund for Rural Economic
Development). In 1972, with the assistance of Ducks Unlimited Canada,
Manitoba Conservation began constructing 22 kilometers of earth dykes to
restore a small portion of the original marsh. Construction was
completed in the spring of 1973, and the restored marsh and surrounding
upland areas were officially designated as Oak Hammock Marsh Wildlife
Management Area (WMA). The WMA is 3,581 hectares or approximately 3600
hectares (36 square kilometers or 8,896 acres or 14 square miles) in
size. It is operated by Manitoba Conservation.
Construction on the Conservation Centre began in 1991. Much of the
work was done in winter, reducing efforts during the spring and fall
migration periods. At a cost of $11 million, the building was designed
to blend in with the landscape as much as possible, using local
limestone on the face of the building. The entire area was landscaped
with native grasses, shrubs, trees and flowers to provide a more natural
and productive setting for wildlife and people. Construction was
completed in the fall of 1992. The Conservation Centre hosts Ducks
Unlimited Canada and Manitoba Conservation offices, as well as the Oak
Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre. The official opening for the Centre
took place on May 1, 1993, twenty years after the original restoration
of the Marsh.
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