TRAIL REPORT & RECENT OBSERVATIONS
Seven Ponds Nature Center encompasses nearly 500 acres of woodlands, wetlands, lakes, ponds, prairies, and fields. There are over six miles of trails for you to explore and enjoy. Please check-in at the nature center prior to venturing out on the trails. Our trails are open to guests Tuesday through Sunday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and open to Seven Ponds members dawn to dusk, every day of the year.
CURRENT TRAIL CONDITIONS
January 21, 2025 - BRRRRRRR!!!! It's cold out there! Bundle up and enjoy a brisk winter trail walk, or just stop by to enjoy the warmth of the Interpretive Building and the Discovery Room.
RECENT OBSERVATIONS
- Fresh snow on the ground means fresh tracks! There is a LOT of animal activity around the nature center, including whitetail deer, gray squirrels, red squirrels, cottontail rabbits, Virginia opossums, raccoons, and birds - including a big flock of wild turkeys. Check out the turkey tracks! (1/2/25)
- Today we spotted an Eastern Screech-Owl peeking out of one of our Wood Duck nest boxes. Screech-Owls generally use tree cavities as their day roost, but will use nest boxes when available - and we have about 30 of them on the property. Whenever you're out hiking at Seven Ponds, be sure to take a look at each Wood Duck box to check for one of these little owls. (11/20/24)
- Paul's Woods was ablaze in golden splendor today, from the carpet of leaves on the ground to those still clinging on the branches. Beautiful! (10/22/24)
- The moonlight shining through the clouds this morning were amazing! (10/22/24)
- The aurora borealis put on quite a show at Seven Ponds Thursday night! One of our naturalists captured the image to the right. Amazing! (10/11/24)
- We've got color! The warm days and cool nights are helping the nature center's maple trees to display their vibrant fall colors. Seemingly overnight we've got orange, gold, and yellow around the nature center! (9/19/24)
- The Butterfly Garden is in prime condition this time of year, with many flowers in bloom attracting myriad insects, including this beautiful monarch we saw today. (9/12/24)
- Many birds are quiet this time of year - nesting season is over for almost all the birds, so there is no need to attract a mate or defend a territory. But we are regularly hearing the loud call of the Pileated Woodpecker - from near our building, in Paul's Woods, and in the North-80. Listen for their raucous call next time you're at Seven Ponds. (8/30/24)
- The Butterfly Garden is in full bloom, with bees and butterflies ever-present and beautiful flowers in bloom. Today we found at least seven monarch caterpillars munching on the milkweed in the garden. Stop by and check it out! (8/22/24)
- Animals abound! Mammal sightings around the nature center building during the last week include the following: Eastern Cottontail, Raccoon, Woodchuck, Opossum, White-tailed Deer, Gray Squirrel, Red Squirrel, Eastern Chipmunk. (7/30/24)
- We heard a Black-billed Cuckoo this morning - the call coming from the North-80. Listen for this secretive bird's distinctive, rapid, "coo-coo-coo-coo" song repeated several times. Always a treat to hear or see. (7/11/24)
- A Red-headed Woodpecker has been seen around the nature center recently! Sightings have occurred in Paul's Woods and (once) at the nature center's feeders. This is a striking woodpecker - with its deep red head and contrasting black and white wing/back pattern. Let's hope it makes a home here and becomes a regular at our feeders! (5/8/24)
Seven Ponds Nature Photo Gallery
206 bird species have been observed at Seven Ponds! The most recent addition to our property list was Common Goldeneye, seen on March 12, 2023. For more recent sightings posted to eBird, click the eBird logo to the right.
Our satellite properties are visited less frequently, but offer different habitat for birds. Check out the eBird reports for these two areas below:
Jonathan Woods Nature Preserve eBird reports
106 bird species observed
Richie Pond Nature Preserve eBird reports
75 bird species observed