What is one sign of a healthy body of water? If there is an abundance of wildlife it is more likely to be healthy.
A local body of water had many invasive plants cover the surface. There was a lack of wildlife on this body of water due to little clear view of it. The town is having someone pull up the weeds with a machine on a boat. He is making pathways and the wildlife is returning.

The green heron is just one of the birds you can now see on this lake/ pond along a creek.



These herons were along the pathway cleared by the machine, but in the weeded areas right off it. I have other birds outside these areas. Towns and cities try to keep invasive species down in your bodies of water. The wildlife will appreciate it.
Such a handsome bird. We have a large pond on our road and it has large bullrushes growing around the edge. There are swans on the pond and sometimes I wonder if the bullrushes will grow into the pond but they never do.
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That is good. We had one lonely adult swan today. Its mate was killed this week somehow. This plant they remove and it keeps growing back. The man removing them says a large lake in the Adirondacks has approved a natural weed killer that supposedly will not harm the wildlife. He also said there are fish that will eat these plants, but they cost a lot of money.
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That is sad about the solitary swan! We have two swans on the big pond but this year they have no cygnets.they usually have at least two.It is possible that a predator ate the eggs or snapping turtles got them when they were young on the water.
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There were maybe 8-10 young swans on another section of this lake. They could be related. The last time I went to this lake a few weeks ago the adult swans were hanging out on the creek that leads into this lake and there were several then. The man who cleans. the lake says he picked up a very large snapping turtle. That could have been the culprit. Eagles are nearby. I also saw a great blue heron with an injured leg.
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Nature an be hard at times.
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Today I found the lonely swan dead in the same area. The youngsters came and had a wake. They got out of the water near it and huddled together.
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Ah this is sad. I have known horses to have wakes when one dies.
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It was sad to see, but shows they miss their loved ones.
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It’s nice to hear that the lake is getting healthier with some help and that some of the wildlife is returning. Green Herons area always fun to watch. Your photos show their beauty very well.
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They kind of ignore me. I don’t get that close. These are with a zoom lens and are heavily cropped. People do not realise how important it is to keep these plants under control. It has a domino effect if you don’t.
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I guess our Green Herons are a lot more shy. Even when I try to take their photo from a distance, they often fly away.
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It seems to depend where they are. Ones who go to a pond in a park are okay with you if you are alone and quiet. When people talking loudly come they leave. On a busy lake I saw the same result. When I am the only person kayaking this lake and go slow and stop and don’t move on the kayak they seem to ignore me. I still keep a distance, but can get better views from a kayak since they stick near the water’s edge or plants edge.
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Seeing them from a kayak or boat will definitely give you a special perspective and possibly more proximity.
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Definitely more proximity. Many birds hang near the water’s edge, but due to vegetation may not be visible on land.
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The Green Heron is one of my favorites.
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They are hard to spot because they are so small, but at this location they just ignore me.
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Beautiful captures!
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Thanks! Beautiful bird!
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Great pictures!
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Thanks! At this location it was easier to get this bird. Kayaking is great!
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Kudos to the town for making the waterway better!
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I know. Towns need to stay on top of these things.
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Beautiful photos of this colorful little heron, Sharon! It’s wonderful that your town is managing their habitat. 🙂
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Found out the guy who is doing it is volunteering. He said this year is his last. They need to pay someone or think of other options.
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I certainly agree that the town should take responsibility.
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Excellent work on the photographs, birds are hard to capture. Using a kayak is clever way to get close to them.
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Many times they fly close to where I am. The greenies on this body of water are not phased by kayakers if you stay put or go really slow.
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