The varying habitats within the Horn Pond Conservation Area make for an ideal birding experience. Below is a brief description to indicate a sampling of the areas and bird sightings.
In and around the main pond, accompanying
lagoons and marsh areas you will find ample opportunity to find birds. Search
the waters edge for Great Blue Herons, Green Herons, or Wood Duck. Listen for
the distinctive rattle along the water for the Belted Kingfisher as they
search for fish. Or spend time scoping the open ponds for Loons or ducks such as
the Blue Winged Teal, Green Winged Teal, Gadwall, Common
Mergansers or Hooded Mergansers.
Horn Pond Mountain and the power lines leading to it provide an ideal spot in late Spring to search for Eastern Bluebird, Prairie Warbler, Field Sparrow, Indigo Bunting, and Eastern Towhee. These birds can be found in the open, secondary growth created by the constant cutting and regrowth. The mature deciduous woods provide a great location for Downey Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Northern Flicker and most recently Red Headed Woodpecker.
Spring migration is an especially magical time
at Horn Pond, as mixed flocks of wood warblers travel through the area.
Throughout the conservation area and especially along the back trails near the
lagoon and Community Gardens you can find mixed flocks of Palm Warbler, Common
Yellowthroat (right), Yellow-Rumped
Warbler, Northern Parula, Magnolia, and Black and White Warbler. Fall
time at the Community Gardens is one of the premier locations in the area for
the many species of sparrows.
As
wintertime approaches the adventurous can always find an unexpected surprise:
owls in the pines, snow bunting on Horn Pond Mountain, or common redpoll along
the trails among others.