What Time is it in Nature?

The onset of winter has brought several annual visitors back to Prairie Ridge. Waterfowl that spend the summer months breeding further north migrate to the ponds, lakes, and marshes of North Carolina for the winter. Among the more common mallards and canada geese come striking birds such as the Hooded Merganser Lophodytes cucullatus. Three Hooded Mergansers have been seen foraging on both permanent ponds at Prairie Ridge. Look for these and other waterfowl during your next visit.

A Mallard duck is a common visitor to Prairie Ridge's ponds.

A pair of Hooded Mergansers

A male Hooded Merganser in his handsome breeding plumage

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