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The large an diverse population of waterbirds in Codorus Park draws from one of North America's great flyways and is hosted by Lake Marburg. A cooperative project between the state of Pennsylvania and the P.H. Gladfelter Paper Company of Spring Grove, this impoundment was first of its kind in the state. It was designed to serve the water needs of a private industry and the town of Spring Grove, as well as proviede a public recreation lake. The lake was created in 1966 by an earth-filled dam across Codorus Creek. The lake is named for the small community of Marburg, now covered by the lake.
Normally, the lake hosts a small number of non-migratory Canada Geese which linger year-round on the lake. However, during migratory season a huge number of the migratory Canada Geese arrive at the lake and overwhelm the coves with their numbers. The picture shows a cove during mid-February as traveling flocks find standing room only.
A migrant which appears briefly each year at the lake on its way northward is the Tundra Swan. The group pictured here appeared during the last week of February, keeping pretty much to themselves in the center of the lake. Tundra Swans breed along northern coastline of Canada, from western Alaska to northern Quebec and Nunavut and in eastern Siberia.
Tundra Swans are easily spotted by the contrast between their snow-white plumage and the dark blue water.
A sriking water bird at the lake is the Great Blue Heron, which frequents the coves and shores of the lake year-round. The Heron is easily spooked and it takes some effort to sneak up on it close enough to get a good picture. I haven't mastered that yet, so this picture is at a fair distance. It is the largest and most widespread heron in North America.
In the spring and fall, ruddy ducks, mergansers and scaups float in large flotillas in the middle of the lake. Near the edges of the lake are grebes, coots and wigeon. Yellowlegs, dunlins and sandpipers frequent the mudflats to rest and refuel. The wetlands in the coves and flats of the lake are great places to see wood ducks, herons, red-winged blackbirds, and kingfishers. Osprey frequent the lake and can be seen diving into the water to catch fish