On Horn Pond, we have several species of birds outside of loons. The lake is home to Mallard Ducks, Great Blue Herons, Canada Goose, and a family of Bald Eagles.
Mallard Ducks
The Mallard is a species of duck that is characterized by the shiny green heads of males. The body of a male Mallard is brown and gray, while females are a mottled brown with an orange bill. The Mallard is a greatly varied herbivore, eating seeds, plants, insects, worms, and crustaceans, among other things. Mallards nest in early spring, with the eggs hatching in June. By all standards, the Mallard is a species of least concern. On Horn Pond, it is very common to see a pair of adult Mallards trailed by a swath of Mallard chicks. The Mallard is a large part of our ecosystem and we do our best to keep these animals safe.
The Canada Goose is a large species of wild goose with a black head and neck, white cheeks, and a brown body. It is also a herbivore, eating plants, seeds, insects, and small fish. When it is found on Horn Pond during the summer months, it is because they are nesting in the area. As this species of goose is extremely capable of adapting to living in areas altered by humans, it is regularly labeled as a pest species. While it may occasionally defecate on your dock, this species plays a vital role in maintaining aquatic plant and insect levels on Horn Pond.
Canada Goose
The Great Blue Heron is a very majestic species of heron characterized by its gray-blue hue and long neck. The species is known for remaining seemingly statue-like while it hunts in shallow waters. It eats primarily fish of various sizes, supplemented by snakes, frogs, and small turtles. The Heron nests high above the water in tall trees. During a typical summer on Horn Pond, there are usually one to three Great Blue Herons inhabiting the lake. The only predator that the heron has on Horn Pond is the Bald Eagle.
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagles
By far the most awe-inspiring animal that we have on our beloved lake is the Bald Eagle. The Bald Eagle is a brown bird of prey characterized by its ‘bald’ head (which is really just white). This beautiful creature has a diet that consists largely of fish, but supplemented by other small prey such as smaller birds. Bald Eagles are known for their ability to swoop down into the water and grab fish with their talons at surface level. Bald Eagles mate for life, with nesting occurring usually in February and the hatching of the chicks occurring by Late may. Bald Eagle nests are hard to miss, as they build the largest nests of any bird in North America.
On Horn Pond, there is a pair of Bald Eagles that inhabit the lake each summer. The will nest each summer atop one of the trees surrounding the lake. Due to it’s place in our nations culture, this creature is one of the most breath taking sights on our lake. Under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and Federal Migratory Bird Threat Act, Bald Eagles are a protected species. This makes harming a Bald Eagle in anyway illegal.
