One Year Ago I Built a 5 Acre Pond - Here's What Happened

Summary

The Crimson Oak Pond video showcases the transformation of a five-acre pond into a thriving wildlife habitat. Over a year, the pond attracted a diverse range of animals, from fish to deer, ducks, coyotes, and even bald eagles. The video highlights the interactions between wildlife and humans, as well as the nocturnal activities captured by night vision cameras. It also documents the construction of shelters and the growth of the pond's ecosystem, emphasizing the educational and entertaining aspects of wildlife observation.

Takeaways

• 🏞️ The Crimson Oak Pond, a five-acre pond, was initially built with a focus on fish but became a home to various wildlife.
• 📹 The pond attracted a variety of animals including deer, ducks, coyotes, squirrels, rabbits, and geese, with rare sightings of a black coyote.
• 🦅 A family of bald eagles moved into the area, providing exciting footage of their hunting and interactions.
• 🌃 Most of the exciting wildlife activity was captured at night using night vision cameras.
• 🏕️ The pond was built in a 60-acre peanut field, with clay brought in to build the dam and line the pond.
• 🌾 Crops like sunflowers, brown top millet, and sorghum were planted around the pond to provide a food source for the wildlife.
• 🏡 Structures such as duck houses and an owl house were built to provide shelter for the animals.
• 🦉 The owls named Hooter and Al Capone were particularly notable for their hunting habits and dust bathing.
• 🦊 A fox squirrel named Foxy was a regular visitor, and efforts were made to provide it with a peanut picnic table.
• 🐾 Predators like bobcats, coyotes, and owls played a role in controlling smaller prey populations like mice and birds.
• 🦆 The pond supported a variety of ducks, including black-bellied whistling ducks that successfully raised a brood of 10 ducklings.

Q & A

What was the initial focus of the Crimson Oak Pond project?

The initial focus of the Crimson Oak Pond project was on the pond construction and the fish that would inhabit it.

How did the wildlife's presence change during the pond construction?

During the pond construction, more and more wildlife started visiting the pond daily, leading to the realization that the pond would be home to a variety of animals, not just fish.

What types of wildlife were captured on film at the pond?

The wildlife captured on film included deer, ducks, coyotes, squirrels, rabbits, owls, geese, a family of bald eagles, and even a rare black coyote.

What was one of the unique aspects of the pond for the wildlife?

One of the unique aspects of the pond was that it brought wildlife out of the woods and into the open, allowing for easier observation and interaction.

What was the process of building the pond like?

The pond was built in a 60-acre peanut field, took between three to four months to construct, involved moving dirt and hauling clay to build the dam and line the pond, and required an underground well to pump water into it.

What features were added to the pond to accommodate wildlife?

An island was added to the pond to provide a hideout for waterfowl and different types of birds away from land predators.

What crops were planted around the pond to attract and sustain wildlife?

Crops planted around the pond included sunflowers, brown top millet, sorghum, corn, soybeans, and other winter crops, chosen for their abundance of seeds and nutritional value for the wildlife.

How did the presence of the pond affect the behavior of the deer?

The presence of the pond made the deer less scared of humans, as they would come out during daylight and not mind human presence near the pond.

What structures were built for the animals to live in around the pond?

Structures built for the animals included duck houses, an owl house, and a large duck house mansion.

What was the significance of the bald eagle family moving into the area?

The arrival of the bald eagle family was significant as it added to the biodiversity of the area and provided an exciting opportunity to observe these majestic birds hunting and interacting with the environment.

How did the pond impact the behavior of migratory birds?

The pond caused migratory birds that would normally just fly over the farm to stop by, as it provided a water source that encouraged them to stay and live in the area.