About the Animals Whirligig beetles are so well-known for speeding in wild circles over the water that Kaufman Field Guide to Insects of North America (by Eric R. Eaton and Kenn Kaufman) calls them the “bumper cars of the beetle world.” Whirligig beetles swim by rowing with their middle and hind legs. Their eyes are split so that half is above the water line and half is below, so these beetles can see well both over and under the pond. Brook trout , also known as speckled trout, live in ponds, streams, creeks, and small rivers and lakes. They eat not only dragonfly larvae but also a variety of other insects, other fish, crayfish, frogs, and even small aquatic mammals such as voles. Brook trout are both predator and prey in a pond ecosystem. They’re hunted by larger fish, mink, otters, raccoons, and birds such as the kingfisher and great blue heron. Painted turtles , named for the bright red and yellow markings on their bodies and shells, love to bask in the sun on logs. They eat insects, crayfish, mollusks, and aquatic plants. In the winter- time, painted turtles burrow into the mud at the bottom of the pond to hibernate. Red-winged blackbirds often build their nests near ponds and other wetlands, and you’ll see them perched on cattails, the males calling cuck-la-ree , cuck-la-ree! Only the males have red wings. Females are brown and look more like sparrows. A red- winged blackbird’s diet depends on the season. They eat lots of insects in summer and feed mostly on seeds in the winter.
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