A Dunlin wades in a roadside fluddle to many a birder’s delight in the marshy bogs near Banner.
PHOTO BY PETE FENNER/PEORIA AUDUBON SOCIETY

October’s Nature Rambles column mentioned the Nov. 8 showing of the documentary film Fluddles (Go to turnstoneimpact.com) that was sponsored by Peoria Audubon Society and Illinois Central College. This film captured the recent efforts by many of the people who live and work in these vast landscapes who are changing the way they think about agriculture.

Several farmers are deciding to restore these wetlands as part of a new way of managing their agricultural operations. Their restored wetlands are quickly becoming oasis for migratory birds, aquatic invertebrates, and amphibians. Many of the drained wetlands were marginal farm ground at best. As the cost of agriculture has increased, it isn’t worth the gamble to try and farm these areas that want to remain wet.

Farmers are finding that they can utilize dedicated wetlands to help manage water issues in other portions of their farm property. It is a win-win for them. It removes a high risk (high expense) gamble from their crop production, while giving them a place to store water. In return they create ecologically productive wetlands that remove high loads of nutrients that would otherwise run off their properties. The health of the entire watershed is improved in the process.

This is the type of far-sighted vision that is in keeping with the expansive views that are present in these unique places. Perhaps that lonely bridge is a metaphor. We can bridge the gap of being responsible stewards of the land at the same time we feed the world. That is a view worth having.