Unlike other ducks, wood ducks nest in tree-cavities within a half mile of suitable water. Compare the overall size and placement of the wood duck nest box with that of the eastern bluebird. We have completed the tour of the freshwater marsh. The Swamp Environment Swamps are wetlands that are dominated by shrubs or trees. Swamps are usually saturated with water during the growing season but may dry out in the late summer.
Swamps can have anywhere from a few inches to a foot or more of water above the ground surface.
Some of the trees found in northern swamps are red maple, black willow, red cedar, alder, cottonwood, pin oak and swamp white oak. Because swamps are diverse environments, they support a variety of animal life such as foxes, squirrels and raccoons in the upland areas and frogs, turtles and salamanders in the wetter areas. Soil Conditions of Wetlands Soils found in wetlands are flooded for prolonged periods during the year and are said to be hydric or wetland soils. Hydric soils are grayish in appearance and may be mottled to a degree. The graying of the soils is a consequence of being flooded or inundated with water for prolonged periods.