City Lake plays important role for wildlife

Photo by Terry Stanfill A river otter pops out of the shallow water along the shores of Siloam Springs City Lake on Thursday. The animals are known for their maneuverability and playfulness as they swim in the waters of freshwater lakes and rivers. They catch and eat fish, clams and other shellfish.
Photo by Terry Stanfill A river otter pops out of the shallow water along the shores of Siloam Springs City Lake on Thursday. The animals are known for their maneuverability and playfulness as they swim in the waters of freshwater lakes and rivers. They catch and eat fish, clams and other shellfish.

People might not think a small, shallow lake nestled so close to urban growth could be so important to native and migratory wildlife, but Siloam Springs City Lake is certainly an example of one such lake which plays a key role in providing habitat and protection to a wide variety of wildlife, some of which has been threatened and endangered. And what better place for those who love to view wildlife or photograph natural scenes and wildlife than City Lake, so close to home whether a resident of Siloam Springs or Gentry.

Several years ago, while on our way to Walmart to shop, my wife told me to stop and look at the large swan-like birds in the reeds along the shore. I did and backed up. And there, along the shore, were a handful of trumpeter swans, swimming and feeding. After a few photographs, we went on; but I returned later with a longer lens to take more photographs of the birds resting out on an icy portion of the lake.

The interesting part of the visit was the fact that I could read the number on the neck band on one of the birds. When they were submitted to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, I learned that the banded bird was hatched in Iowa and released at a location along the Buffalo River a few years before and not seen again. The sighting and photograph helped document the release program's success in helping to restore the large migratory birds which were once hunted to near extinction.

And City Lake, it played a key role in providing a safe haven for the migratory birds and open water for them to feed during an unusually cold January.

I watched for them again every time I passed the lake. My wife knows it's my preferred route to Siloam Springs and Walmart even though using Arkansas Highway 59 is quicker and more direct. I like it because I can watch for wildlife along City Lake. And, in addition to viewing the often-glassy water of the lake, I've seen plenty of wildlife. Blue Herons and a wide variety of ducks and geese are regulars, but I've seen eagles, ospreys, a variety of gulls, turkey buzzards and, yes, trumpeter swans.

On Thursday, after hearing of the arrival of the swans, I went out with camera in hand -- I tried something new and borrowed my wife's video camera. I had seen the swans on the previous day but didn't have time to stop, but I made time on Thursday.

After spotting the swans, I drove to a parking area where I could walk in for a closer view and, hopefully, some photos and video. As I got closer to the lake, I spotted Terry Stanfill, an area wildlife photographer and ecologist, and knew I was in the right place. And while we talked, I took several segments of video as the seven swans -- two adults and five juveniles -- swam past and headed to shallow water on the other side of the lake to feed. Though the lighting was not good on the other side of the lake, I took some video there, as well, as the birds fed off the lake bottom.

How special is that!

Where I used to live in northern Kansas, I regularly visited a national wildlife refuge to photograph eagles and see trumpeter swans, but they were always fewer and far off in the distance and hard to photograph. I do remember that someone in the area had shot a trumpeter swan -- the punishment might have been less for murder. Here, among all the people and growth in Arkansas, I've seen more wildlife up close than anywhere I've ever lived. Even with limited equipment, I've photographed eagles, trumpeter swans and other wildlife.

Oh, and I might add that Terry Stanfill saw and photographed river otters in the waters of City Lake Thursday morning, too. One photo had three of them in the same frame. Though not endangered, it's certainly not every day that one sees river otters. And, on the way back to our trucks, Terry pointed out to me the swamp milkweed growing along the lake's shores. The plant is a much-needed source of nectar for migrating monarch butterflies and is also a place where the butterflies lay eggs, helping to provide future generations of the beautiful insect. With development around lakes, the milkweed -- so necessary for monarchs -- is disappearing, which might mean the butterflies will disappear as well.

I write this piece just to remind area residents what special places we have right in our own backyard. SWEPCO Lake and the Eagle Watch Nature Area are a beautiful example, but City Lake is another which provides viewing opportunities seldom found elsewhere and with such easy access. I know of many people who visit the lake regularly just for that reason.

City Lake is a beautiful place to go fishing, take scenic photos and wildlife photos. And it is an important place for both native and migratory species, too, because of its warm and shallow waters. It is truly a jewel which should be treasured and preserved!

-- Randy Moll is the managing editor of the Westside Eagle Observer. He may be contacted by email at [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author.

Sports on 01/21/2015