POND & STREAM LIFE
In the pond are rosy minnows which eat the mosquito larvae and keep the mosquito problem non-existent. A few goldfish are also present. These fish attract herons and egrets. Seen: Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret and the Black-crowned Night Heron.
There are two wetland areas in the stream with cattails and horsetails. These plants pick up nutrients and help to keep the water clean. Dragonflies love the cattails and we find dragonfly nymphs in the water. In the water there is watercress and other water-loving plants along with algae.
There was a nesting Cooper’s Hawk but the nest is no longer used. However, Cooper’s Hawks are seen most days. Black phoebes are prevalent and can be seen perching near the pond and stream to catch the insects. Other birds seen are: Audubon’s Warbler, Bushtit, House Sparrow, Anna’s Hummingbird, Common Yellowthroat, California Towhee, Western Bluebird, etc.
Butterflies seen are: Monarch, Cloudless Sulphur, Western Tiger Swallowtail, Giant Swallowtail, Painted Lady, Marine Blue, Gulf Fritillary, Mourning Cloak. There are many plants which serve as host or larval plants.
Some life is nocturnal and we only see evidence of it. Many raccoons visit as evidenced by their footprints. Opossums also visit as they have been seen and a skeleton head found. Rabbits have been seen.