Web site design © Dianne Fristrom Last update: 2/12/04.
Other sites by Dianne Fristrom •
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The oldest wildlife refuge anywhere in North America, Lake Merritt is something of an urban miracle. There are large breeding populations of herons, egrets, geese and ducks. Countless migratory birds make it their home during the winter months. The artificial islands, close to shore, the isolation of the north arm of the lake from boat traffic and the regular feeding program run by the nature center have helped create this miracle. It 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 here are water-birds that you are virtually guaranteed to see on the lake in winter. Other, less common ones are listed at the end. Photographs are from the Audubon Society Field Guide to Birds of North America except where otherwise indicated. Click on images with a blue border to see a larger picture. |
Herons
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Black -crowned Night-Heron. The adult (left) is a distinctive bird with its grey and white plumage and two long, white hindneck plumes. The juveniles (right) have a similar stocky build to the adult but are much less striking with white-streaked brown feathers and no plumes. Large numbers nest on the islands and are dependent on handouts of fish from the nature center. At dusk one also finds them fishing near the channel to the bay at 12th street. Photos: D. Fristrom |
Egrets
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Great
Egret. These large graceful
birds nest in trees on the islands. They eat almost anything that
moves, fish, frogs, small mammals. They happily accept handouts
of fish from the nature center as well as foraging for themselves.
Look for them at the nature center or near the channel to the bay
when the tide is coming in. Photo: Great Egret on the big Island: D. Fristrom |
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Snowy Egret. The Snowy Egret is commonly seen around the edges of the lake at low tide, stirring the water with its bright yellow feet to lure small fish and crustacians into striking range. Fluffy nuptial plummage in March and April is part of its dramatic mating display. Like the great egret they nest and roost in trees on the islands and at times it seems as if the trees are blooming snowy egrets. In addition to the great and snowy egrets at least one cattle egret (identified by a pinkish splotch on its forehead) has been spotted on the big island. Photo: D. Fristrom |
Geese
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Canada Goose. Part of a large year round breeding colony, these elegant birds hang out on the grassy areas surrounding the lake and on the islands.The fluffy chicks are a welcome sight in spring.Photos. D.Fristrom
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Grebes
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Grebes.
Four or five species of grebes are winter visitors to the lake.
The largest and most striking is the Western Grebe (now divided
into Western and Clark's grebe) with its elegant black and white
neck. The smaller Horned and Eared Grebes have shorter necks than
the Western Grebe and greyish rather than black plummage on neck
and back. The Eared Grebe has a distinctive bump on the top of
its head. All of the grebes are strong swimmers and divers and can be found anywhere on the lake usually in ones and twos. None seem to have much interest in the handouts at the nature center. The Pied-billed Grebes can often be found near the fresh water inlet on the north arm of the lake. |
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Gulls
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Ring-billed Gull. This is one of the few gulls that are easy for the novice to identify. The dark band around the upper and lower bill (whence the name) is the thing to look for. It is NOT a seagull but a land gull (common in the midwest) that winters on the Pacific coast. Photo D. Fristrom |
Coots
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American Coot. These chicken sized birds are related to rails and are common throughout North America. Rather than fully webbed feet like ducks, their separated toes have lobes on either side that aid in paddling. They feed by both dabbling and diving and even grazing on the grass at the edge of the lake. Note their distinctive forward and backward head movement. Photo D. Fristrom |
Cormorants
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Double-crested Cormorant. These large diving birds are excellent fliers and fishers typified by their long, hooked bills. They prefer to fish for themselves than to take handouts from the nature center and are often found near the freshwater inlets to the lake. Unlike most water birds they don't have water repellant feathers so are often seen sitting on the booms with their wings spread to dry (photo on right: D. Fristrom). |