Delta Marsh Midges

Midge larvae are the engine that drives the great productivity of ducks and other birds at the Delta Marsh. Everything from Yellow Warblers to Canvasbacks feasts on midges – either the flying adults or the “blood worms” in the marsh sediments. 

Midges at Delta live a year or sometime more as larvae, then they emerge – often with great synchrony – mate, lay eggs and die. The first major emergence in June is always spectacular. Millions and millions fly in swarms of males where females come to find their partner for their short term liaison.

This is why the Delta ridge has so many records of maximum densities of breeding birds - super abundant food.

Frank