This resource was created by Joanne Vogel and Kate Reilly.
"When the last tree is cut down, the last fish eaten, and the last stream poisoned, you will realize that you cannot eat money."
Often attributed to the Cree Indigenous Peoples, the quote reminds us that water is precious. Planet earth, despite being coined the “water planet”, has an extremely limited supply of accessible fresh water.
We hope you enjoy reading about just a few of the elements that represent the biodiversity of these interactive systems and perhaps on your next visit to Duke Farms, can make some aquatic discoveries of your own!
With over 75 acres of open water, there's plenty of habitat for water birds. One of the most majestic of all the water birds on site is the great blue heron. This long-legged wader sports blue-gray plumage and can often be seen standing motionless in the shallows as it scans the water for fish, snakes, and frogs. These birds can pose like statues for what seems like an eternity - but when a meal wanders near, the great blue heron stalks and strikes like a stealth bomber.