Over 200 species of birds can be seen on Lake Trail during the year. Here are a few that can be seen in the Spring (March through May)
Ospreys, male and female, Pandion haliateus, on nesting platform in Lake Knapp. They begin arriving at CBEC in early April. Their diet is mainly fish, by hovering overhead and diving head and feet-first to catch the fish. Their call are short, shrill whistles twep, twep, twep, teelee, teelee, teelee. They are 23″ in length, a wingspan of 63″ and weigh 56 oz.
Northern Shovelers, male and female, Anas clypeata, are found mainly on weedy or grassy ponds. They feed on plankton and some seeds, gathered by straining with their bills. The female has a deep quack and hoarse kwarsh and a short gack gack. The male in courtship gives a nasal, unmusical thuk-thUK. They are 19″ in length, a wingspan of 30″ and weigh 20.8 oz.
Red-breasted Merganzer, female, Mergus serrator. Feeds on small fishing shallow water. Female gives a trek trek. The male is mostly silent. It is 23″ in length, a wingspan of 30″ and weighs 36.8 oz.
Northern Mockingbird, Mimus polyglottos. Seen year-round at CBEC. Feeds on insects and fruit, often defending fruiting trees and shrubs from other birds. Its song is varied phrases in a regimented series. Each phrase is repeated two to six times, then an obvious pause followed by a different series. Its call is a harsh, dry chak. It is 10″ in length, a wingspan of 14″ and weighs 1.7 oz.