April 2011 Gem Lake Newsletter - Laserfiche WebLink

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Gem Lake NewsPage 5 of 6 Wildlife Abounds in Gem Lake You only have to walk out your door here in Gem Lake to understand what makes our city so special (and in some ways, so unique.) With spring and the return of migratory birds, the abundance of wildlife in our community is even more evident. Not only do turkey parades stop traffic on Goose Lake Road, but the plaintive call of several loons on Gem Lake has brought a sense of awe to residents. With the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, some wondered if the Common Loon would return peacefully to our area. In addition, several bald eagles have been spotted repeatedly in the wet and marshy areas of the city. Some say they have seen two eagle babies also. Although there is no evidence of an eagle's nest, it does appear that our national symbol is at least using Gem Lake as a drive- through lunch location, feeding on fish from the lake. Several years ago, David and Leslie Gardner began to keep a list of birds and other animals that have been spotted in the city. The list includes 115 birds and 20 other animals. Some of the most commonly sighted birds include those such as the American Goldfinch, the Baltimore Oriole, the Common Loon, the Canadian Goose, the Mallard, the Great Horned Owl, the Pileated Woodpecker, the White Breasted Nuthatch, the American Crow and the Ruby Throated Hummingbird. (Each of these birds actually nest in our community.) Other animals sighted in our city include, of course, the White-Tailed Deer, which often seems more common than the UPS Truck, plus animals like the coyote, red fox, woodchuck, opossum, short-tailed weasel, raccoon, snapping turtle, cotton-tail rabbit, beaver, red squirrel, muskrat, river otter, and skunk. To obtain a complete list of birds and other animals on the Gardner list, send an email to gretchenas@comcast.net.