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SURPRISE BIRD ENCOUNTERS!
Bird lovers will enjoy the many types of habitat surrounding Arrowhead Cove. We have the lake, the woods, and the open field depending on which side of the house you are on! We are now in our third winter on the lake, and I am discovering that January is an interesting month for birding! On January 12, 2008, I observed three bald eagles perched in trees along the northeast shore of the lake. Up to that point, I had spotted one at a time and assumed that we only had one in the area. These are my first ever confirmed observations of bald eagle here.
   Back on January 6th, 2007, there were about 30 wild turkey in the corn stubble just beyond the driveway; swan, ducks, geese, sea gulls and blue heron enjoy the open water of the lake, and cardinals, blue jay, tufted titmouse, chickadees, and nuthatch (to name a few) are easily spotted in the yard and forest (just north of the house).
   If you've never seen the large, sandhill crane, our area offers great habitat for them.    Patient birders will have the opportunity to encounter owls and pheasant. The flock of turkey have come out of the woods numerous times in recent months, but we can't predict when! Experienced bird watchers will enjoy the variety found here. One unique experience is available by water only. A 30 minute kayak paddle will take you to the unusual site of a heronry. (Look it up if you don't know what that is!)
   For the less experienced, we have bird books and binoculars that you may borrow. So come and enjoy our bird paradise!

FISH, REPTILES, AMPHIBIANS!
   Our "Spring Symphony" on warm evenings consists of melodic "movements" by several frog choruses including spring peepers, chorus frogs, and wood frogs. It's an incredible sound! The bullfrogs and tree frogs are heard later in the season.
   Turtles are a common sight in our yard in May and June. They come out of the lake to lay their eggs and often select a spot close to the house.
Snakes--yes there are some around and they help keep the mice and other small mammals under control. They don't like to be around humans and I very rarely see any.
   We have good fishing opportunities on Portage Lake. Bass, blue gill, crappie, sunfish, perch, and pike are all found here. We also have plenty of large carp in the lake that some folks enjoy spearing.

MAMMALS AND INSECTS
We have all the common species, some that are uncommon and others that are just interesting to watch. We have had some beaver in the area for about a year. We have spotted two in the river several times and a pair close to our shore (on one occasion).
Bats are seen in the evening twilight feasting on insects. We enjoy sitting in the swing and watching them perform their "blind, flight maneuvers". They have really helped keep the mosquito population under control. The field out back has soybeans this year and the deer love to munch on the tender shoots! We aren't surprised anymore to see from 5 to 10 from the driveway. They will be visible all season, particularly in the early morning and evening; mealtimes! Raccoons come out at night and we sometimes hear them in the trees. They are probably feasting on the turtle eggs!
We have many varieties of butterflies and moths during the summer months. They share the flower nectar in our gardens with the hummingbirds. I cultivate parsley and milkweed because they are favorites of certain species. We have field guides available for anyone who wants to identify the many species of flying and crawling bugs at Arrowhead Cove.