What first comes to mind when you think of the habitats of Mcfarland, many fail to note the diverse landscape surrounding them. 

While Mcfarland is known for it’s heavily-wooded areas, some of which may be right outside your backyard, it is also home to numerous wetland and riparian habitats. Together, these distinct habitats enable and support the rich biodiversity that we see today in Mcfarland Parks.

HABITATS

Hardwood Forests

Hardwood forest are found everywhere in eastern North America. Wisconsin has extensive Northern Hardwood forests. In upland areas such as the McFarland School Forest / Indian Mound Park, maples, basswood, birches, burr oak, and aspen (popple) mix with other deciduous and coniferous trees.   This is a great habitat for birds and other animals to live in, such as the Black-Capped Chickadee, Cedar Waxwing, White-Tailed Deer, and Squirrels. The hardwood forest at McFarland School Forest / Indian Mound Park hosts all of these types of animals and many more.  In fall, the leaves fall from the trees and then throughout the winter the hardwood forest just shows bare branches and tree trunks.

Wetlands

A wetland is an area that is covered by water or is has a lot of water in it. Other names that they can be called swamps, peatlands, sloughs, marshes, muskegs, bogs, fens, potholes, and mires.The water usually comes from an aquifer or a spring, but it can also come from a river or lake. In the Thurn Marsh Park behind Indian Mound Middle School, there is a large marsh with many cattails and other common marsh plants like red dogwood bushes.  Marsh wetlands are a great habitat for birds and animals such as Sandhill Cranes, Red-Winged Blackbirds, Mallards, Muskrat and Racoons.

Riparian

A riparian habitat or riparian zone is a type of wildlife habitat found along the banks of a river or stream. Rivers are large, flowing streams of natural water. They are found on every continent and almost any type of land. At the Jaeger Conservancy behind Indian Mound Middle School, a section of riparian habitat is formed from the Yahara River flowing through. This habitat is great for supporting bird and animal wildlife such as Mallards, Blue-Winged Teal, Lesser Scaup (winter only), Muskrats, Tree Swallow and Barn Swallows. In Jaeger Conversancy there are also common types of trees and plants found in riparian habitat such as Cottonwood Trees, Weeping Willow Trees and Red Dogwood Bushes.

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