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Parks
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home > parks > lake merritt >
Birds of Lake Merritt The oldest wildlife refuge anywhere in North America, Lake Merritt is something of an urban miracle. Lake Merritt, home to large breeding populations of herons, egrets, geese and ducks, is the oldest wildlife refuge on North America. Countless migratory birds make the lake their home during the winter months. The artificial islands, its close proximity to shore, the isolation of the north arm of the lake from boat traffic, and the nature center have all helped create this miracle. Lake Merritt is a great place for beginning birders to get up-close views of many species, including the incredibly tame black-crowned night herons, snowy egrets and hundreds of scaups! The birds shown below are water-birds that you are virtually guaranteed to see on the lake in the winter; click on the images to learn more about each species. From time to time, brown pelicans and great blue herons make an appearance on the lake. Occasionally, strange and exotic birds such as Egyptian geese and Mandarin ducks make an appearance in the nature center as well. There are also an abundance of less obvious winter visitors; for example, the single female tufted duck that was present throughout the winter of 2002. Other winter visitors include gadwalls, common and red-throated loons, Eurasian and American wigeons, pintail ducks, wood ducks, ring-necked ducks, white-eyed scoters and surf scoters - not to mention the many species of land birds around the lake. Photos provided by Dianne Fristrom.
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