WW's ponds in the summer

Terry Peeler (Lake Doctors) and his team have been caring for Wildewood's manmade, stormwater retention ponds for almost 20 years. 

Though the HOAs formally work with Terry, years ago he invited and I agreed to send him photos of the ponds between services for his use in determining maintenance. Here are some of the photos I sent this week.

He responded by saying that there is mostly protozoan scum on the pond, which is helped by dispersement. Another rain appreciation! 

Things that help control the bloom: taking stormwater runoff over land before entering the pond, reducing fertilizer, insecticide, and herbicide use as much as possible, and having the excellent services Terry's team provides.

Here is a good pamphlet to learn more about helpful stormwater practices. It is guidance about safety with algae blooms. People and pets should not come into contact with pond algae (toxins). 

I've written about WW ponds:

A post about the purpose of Wildewood ponds

A post about building stormwater paths in Wildewood to help with erosion control

Photos of Wildewood ponds during heavy rains

The Pineneedle/Woodlawn pond and its care are shared by WWI (John Haggerty, property manager) and Pineneedle (WW2A).

Pond level lowest ever?

When I went outside to take a photo of the pond level, a male Pileated Woodpecker was also peeking out. May 15, 2023

Many notice the low pond level. I found a photo from June 21, 2021: 

Here is the pond today, May 15, 2023. What do you think? An advantage: I stepped down onto the pond edge and removed a large "Ian" branch.

This is another personality of the pond. Photo taken on August 31, 2016 (Hermine).

And here are a few recent photos from the neighborhood.

An idea about what might be going on: a male Northern Cardinal is keeping watch over a younger cardinal. It could simply be an adult male and female, but the way the male red hopped around in the Wedelia looking for the bird when it was in there makes me think it's a juvenile. 

The first photo, see them both? In the second photo - the younger bird is now in the butterfly garden tended by Jim and Betsy while the adult watches over it.

A Spoonbill Roseate (with an injured leg - is it the same one year to year?) and a companion Snowy Egret. Neighbor Susan sent a photo, too. We were looking out together!

An adult Opossum across the pond scurrying to take cover in the overgrowth. Some of you will say ick when you see one. It's one of my favorite animals. A marsupial that does not carry rabies and loves insects. Come to the butterfly garden, Opossum.

Last, the native Pink Milkweed is blooming!

A red Passionflower also blooms. That's an ant. Ants like flower nectar, too.

Hermine is filling the pond

Behind Rosalie and Len and Betty's units. August 31, 2016. 6:20 PM

More photos from behind 179 - 184 units.

Mote Marine has an exhibit to learn about river otters and their waters

Jane, one of the otters at Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium. 

Image copyright: Mote Marine.

Having the thrill of multiple sightings of the otters that swim in the ponds behind our place in Wildewood, I am so happy to know that Mote's latest exhibit is about otters (February 2016).

Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium welcomes freshwater otters Huck, Pippi, and Jane into the Mote family. Now we can learn more about the otters living in Wildewood and ways to maintain our ponds, their homes in Wildewood.

Want to volunteer as a docent or donate to support Jane at Mote? Click here.