Least Bittern: Ixobrychus exilis. A male calling softly during the day in cattails on the lower pond 2 through 6 June 1984 was undoubtedly unmated.
Great Blue Heron: Ardea herodias. Individuals are occasionally seen flying by or on the ponds. This colonial nester does not have a colony in or near the cemetery.
*Green Heron: Butorides virescens. Adults were seen feeding on the ponds every summer prior to draining of the lower pond in 1989. Two adults were feeding at least three downy young, about two weeks old, on 29 June 1985 at a nest along the brook near the upper pond. This species no longer summers in the cemetery.
Turkey Vulture: Cathartes aura. Birds are often seen in flight but never perched. This species travels considerable distances to feed.
*Canada Goose: Branta canadensis. Geese have nested annually since 1975 in the pond areas and subsequently many additional locations. In 1975 a pair nested on an insular area of the upper pond which was long the prime location. The nest was completed 19 April and incubation began immediately. The female was restless on 17 May and had three goslings on 21 May. The two goslings still present on 31 May were raised to maturity. By 1983 the number of geese summering may have been in excess of 80 when at least five pairs attempted to nest. One pair hatched at least two, but neither survived. The fifth pair, whose nest above the dam was never found, had young and eventually raised four goslings. The other three nests were unsuccessful, including the very natural appearing one built on a muskrat house on the lower pond. These incidences of nest failure and juvenile mortality illustrate the low survival experienced by waterfowl which hampers efforts to verify nesting attempts by less numerous and obvious species.
*Wood Duck: Aix sponsa. Usually several pairs are present and assumed to nest in tree cavities along the brook between the dam and the ponds. First evidence of success was a hen with ten very small ducklings on 27 May 1982, only one of which remained on 29 May. Of young found on 9 July 1983, two half- grown birds were still present on 3 August. This species has been less apparent since dredging of the lower pond and draining of the upper pond, but a calling female flying to the lower pond 26 May 1995 was probably a nesting bird.
American Wigeon: Anas americana. A male on the ponds on 8 June 1988 was probably not a breeding bird.
American Black Duck: Anas rubripes. Several summered in 1974 and 1975. There was no evidence of breeding.
*Mallard: Anas platyrhynchos. Several pairs may nest annually in the vicinity of the ponds. This species suffers a high rate of failure, but some usually manage to mature. The most unusual nesting was in the hollow top of a sycamore snag, about thirty feet high, along the upper pond in 1983 and 1984. The female could be observed through an old woodpecker hole on the side of the trunk. Activity in the nest on 20 May 1983 brought it to notice, probably due to the eggs hatching, as on 21 May the nest was vacant and a hen with four small ducklings was on the upper pond. This brood was never seen again. Later nestings seem more successful, e.g. of ten small young seen on 15 June 1983, five were still present on 24 June and one remained on 9 July.
Blue-winged Teal: Anas discors. Prior to alteration of the ponds, a few were often present during part of the breeding season but no success has ever been noted. Nesting may have been attempted in 1984 when one or two pairs were present 2 and 6 May, a single male on 14, 23 and 25 May and a single female on 17 and 20 June.
Green-winged Teal: Anas crecca. Two were present on 12 May 1976.
Hooded Merganser: Lophodytes cucullatus. One female was on the ponds on 21 May 1975. A lone, nearly full grown, juvenile on the lower pond on 18 June 1995 could have come from anywhere, but adults lingering in the spring of 1997 were futher hints at possible nesting in the cemetery or nearby.
Cooper's Hawk: Accipiter cooperii. A one year old bird was seen in pursuit of a Belted Kingfisher on 12 June 1983. An adult seen on 29 March 1986 was probably a migrant. This species may nest nearby.
Red-shouldered Hawk: Buteo lineatus. A juvenile in fresh plumage seen around the ponds on 20 August 1994 may have come from a new University Circle population.
Broad-winged Hawk: Buteo platypterus. One on 11 May 1975, one in ragged plumage on 6 July 1975, two adults circling together on 9 July 1983 and one circling high on 17 May 1986 were probably migrants or birds breeding elsewhere.
*Red-tailed Hawk: Buteo jamaicensis. One pair nests annually in wooded portions of the cemetery or nearby areas. In 1983 a new nest was constructed on a squirrel nest in the center of a small woodlot in the cemetery. Incubation began by 12 April and the two nestlings were well grown and appeared about ready to fledge on 25 June. This nest was successfully reused in 1984, abandoned in 1985 and occupied by Great Horned Owls in 1986 when the hawks had a new nest in a formal part of the cemetery where they nested about one month earlier than in 1983. For several years a nest was located in a large evergreen in the ravine below the dam. On 14 June 1995 a nest was located in the largest woods, with already fledged young calling nearby. This nest disappeared over the winter, but young fledged from another nest in the same area in 1996.
American Kestrel: Falco sparverius. Individuals or a pair are occasionally seen during the breeding season and are presumed to nest somewhere in the general vicinity.
*Killdeer: Charadrius vociferus. One or more pairs may nest in the cemetery. On 12 April 1983 a pair was observed in courtship display and on 14 May one gave some broken wing displays and distress calls. On 21 May through 1 June 1988 a pair were incubating at a nest on a rocky spit in the upper pond.
Spotted Sandpiper: Actitis macularia. A pair may attempt to nest near the upper pond. Birds have been seen into June and sometimes courtship display observed. This species was absent after draining of the upper pond, but in 1995, as many as four birds were present through May on the lower pond.
American Woodcock: Scolopax minor. Suitable habitat is present for courtship flights and nesting and it is possible that this species nests in the cemetery. Suggestive data consists of records of three on 13 May 1979 and one on 12 June 1981 just inside the same wooded area.
Herring Gull: Larus argentatus. In 1981 through 1984 adult birds spent May and early June around the ponds. In 1983, as many as 16 were sometimes present, though four were regular. This behavior of non-breeding Herring Gulls is common.
Rock Pigeon: Columba livia. Resident in large numbers, they particularly frequent the area around the chapel. Nesting obviously occurs, but has not been observed.
*Mourning Dove: Zenaida macroura. This is a common nesting species throughout the cemetery. Incubation was recorded as early as 21 March 1982 in a spruce grove and nesting continues through several broods.
Black-billed Cuckoo: Coccyzus erythropthalmus. One seen 3 June 1984 was probably a migrant, but one heard 12 June 1983 was late for a migrant.
Yellow-billed Cuckoo: Coccyzus americanus). One was seen 10 June 1984.
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Changes last made on: Wed Jul 30, 1997