Mendon Ponds Park is a county park located southeast of Rochester, New York near the town of Mendon. At over 2500 acres (10 km²), it is the largest park in Monroe County. It was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1967 because of its unique glacial geology.

Wildlife

Mendon Ponds is known locally as a birdwatching destination. Birds present in the wetland areas include Wood Duck, Red-winged Blackbird, Blue Heron, Canada Goose, Virginia Rail, sora, Least and American bittern, and American Coot. Passerine birds of the park are typified by Eastern Bluebird, Scarlet Tanager, flycatchers, vireo, chickadees, and nuthatches. In winter, the park's chickadees take seed from patient visitors' hands.

At the northernwestern end of the line of other glacial ponds and lakes near the kettle hole called the "Devil's Bathtub" in the park , there is a sphagnum moss peat bog, and the buildup of moss has created a floating island in the middle of the lake. Due to the acidity buildup and lack of decay caused by the sphagnum moss, the bog is home to a number of carnivorous plants, including sundew and pitcher plants.

Beaver, muskrats, fox, deer, and mink have been observed in the park.

Geographical Features

Mendon Ponds also includes a number of unique glacially created land structures, including; a kettle hole, esker, floating sphagnum moss peat bog, and kames.

References

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