While doing my daily rounds as a maintenance technician at Camden Lago Vista and Camden Lee Vista, I noticed a resident who was often on his balcony sipping coffee and concentrating on watching something.

At first, I couldn’t really tell what it was, but then I saw a mama duck with her ducklings. That scene piqued my curiosity. After that, I started noticing more and more of Camden’s “natural” residents.

A duck family hanging out at a Camden community pond. Photo Courtesy of Esteban Langer.

In some of our Camden communities, the well-groomed and maintained grounds, ponds, and gardens have become a sort of refuge for the wildlife in the area.

For example, here in Orlando at Camden La Vina, Camden Lago Vista, Camden Town Square, Camden World Gateway, and Camden Waterford Lakes, you can find an abundance of ducks and semi-aquatic birds such as egrets, blue and white herons, white ibises, roseate spoonbills among others.

Swimming inside the Camden ponds, you can find different kinds of turtles, fish, and other small animals that are excellent proof of the good health of these bodies of water.

Camden Lee Vista wildlife mosaic: top right clockwise, anhinga resting under a water fountain; pond heron looking for food, common squirrel eating at a tree, great egret taking flight, a family of Mottled ducks near a pond, red-shouldered hawk perched at a building. Photos courtesy of Esteban Langer.

In the well-kept trees and bushes, there are many playful squirrels, as well as diverse birds like cardinals, several kinds of jays, and canaries, among other species. Also, if you are lucky, you can see beautiful hawks, ospreys and occasionally a bald eagle.

So it doesn’t matter if you are a bird fan, enjoy watching wildlife, or just find watching nature a relaxing activity. At Camden, we have a balcony or window facing a pond or garden just waiting for you to make it part of your new home.

What about going a step further and appreciating nature and aiding in its sustainability? Be bold and step out of your comfort zone, plant a garden, shop local, and be energy and gas-conscious. You can do many things right in your community to help the environment and keep nature knocking at your door, window, or balcony!

At Camden, we love nature. Look at these cool ideas for being environmentally aware at Simply Camden.