Site 2
Floating Dock Area
A water source found on the Kansas prairie is a life sustaining attribute to the entire habitat of an area. Not only does the water nourish the plants and trees along its edges, but it also provides a haven for birds, insects, fish, amphibians, and animals that live or visit the area.
Visitors are welcome to fish if they follow the current licensure regulations of Kansas, and practice catch and release fishing. The most likely fish to find in this pond are small sunfish. The sunfish family belongs to the order Perciformes. The most well-known one is blue gill. All members of the sunfish family are nest-building carnivores. In fact, in the shallow areas, you will find male sunfish scooping out nests in the mud for the females to lay their eggs. Spawning season is between April and September.
A variety of aquatic insects flying around the pond spend their juvenile stage under water. The most common of these types of insects is the dragonfly. The dragonfly lives in water during their nymph stage of life (a full year). Dragonfly nymphs scoot around in the water eating insects and even minnows. Those that survive crawl on land to molt into an adult with wings. Then, they fly away to find a mate. Once a mate is found, a clutch of eggs is dropped back into the pond, where it sinks to the bottom or clings to vegetation in the pond.
Birds are not only attracted to the pond for food (insects and fish), but also for the need of water and to keep cool. The Red-winged blackbird is known by its distinct coloring and birdsong. You will find him as well as many other bird species visiting our pond either scavenging for food or defending its territory for nest building.
The last point of interest to share about the pond is that it is the home of diverse amphibians and turtles. These critters utilize the water habitat for not only as a food source but also to shelter and raise their young. Pond (Red-eared) Sliders are easy to find turtles, because of their distinct markings of “red-ears” on their heads. Every so often, you’ll see one poke his head out of the water or sunning himself on a fallen log.