Near Oregon in Dane County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Swan Pond
Kettle holes have no stream to supply them with water, so Swan Pond's water level fluctuates greatly through the year. In March and April, when the pond swells with rains and melting snow, flocks of snow-white whistling swans stop on their trek from the Atlantic seaboard to Yukon breeding grounds.
The pond gradually shrinks in summer. Newly exposed mud flats immediately sprout a thick growth of smartweed and other shore plants, which supply seeds for next spring's migrating waterfowl. Shore birds flock to the pond in summer. A common inhabitant is the long-legged, robin-sized killdeer, named for its call.
As the water rises in fall, muskrats harvest the plants and create open water again for waterfowl. By the time the pond freezes, they have piled the plants into domed huts. Muskrats survive the winter by eating their houses from the inside out!
Swan Pond is on private property -- an excellent example of the compatibility of farming with preservation of wildlife habitat.
Erected 1977 by the Dane County Natural History Marker System.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Environment.
Location. 42° 56.57′ N, 89° 26.327′ W. Marker is near Oregon, Wisconsin, in Dane County. Marker is on Fish Hatchery Road (County Road D) half a mile south of County Highway M, on the right when traveling south. Be careful, as there is not much room to pull off the highway at the marker, and Fish Hatchery Road is busy with cars travelling the 55 mph speed limit or faster. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Oregon WI 53575, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Lake Harriet School (approx. 1.3 miles away); Illinois Central Depot / Fitchburg (approx. 2 miles away); Dogtown - Fish Hatchery School (approx. 2.7 miles away); Revolutionary War Veteran (approx. 2.8 miles away); Lake View School (approx. 4.1 miles away); a different marker also named Dogtown - Fish Hatchery School (approx. 4.1 miles away); Paoli (approx. 4.6 miles away); St. Raphael's Frenchtown Cemetery (approx. 4.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Oregon.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. This is a list of markers in the Dane County Natural History Marker System.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on October 17, 2010, by William J. Toman of Green Lake, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 1,888 times since then and 92 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 17, 2010, by William J. Toman of Green Lake, Wisconsin. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.