My Little Pond
by Emma Zhao

Since 2021, I have been documenting life around a small pond near my home. What began as simple curiosity has grown into years of observation, drawing, and action.

This pond is home to many creatures — beavers that shape the water, turtles that nest along its banks, coyotes that pass through at dusk, frogs that return each spring, and birds that fill the trees above.

Through photographs, sketches, and field notes,
I explore how fragile ecosystems respond to human presence — and what responsibility means in everyday life.

Ecosystem - shaped by Beavers

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Wildlife around the pond

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Reference Photo(2023 May)

This photo shows turtles resting on a fallen log near our pond.
It represents years of quiet observation and familiarity with this habitat.
At the time, the ecosystem felt stable and predictable.

The Aftermath (2025 Oct)

After witnessing a roadkill incident involving a turtle nearby,
I began to reflect on how fragile this environment really is.
This painting expresses that shift in awareness and responsibility

The Pond- December 2021

This was the first time I walked to the pond after we moved here. I didn’t know then that this quiet moment would become the beginning of everything I would later explore. 

Original field footage · Recorded in December 2021

Spring

Summer

Autumn

Winter

The First Turtle-Snapping Turtle June 2022

In July 2022, I documented a snapping turtle climbing out of pond to lay her eggs…
It was my first close observation of nesting behavior. I stayed quietly nearby and recorded the moment without interfering.

Watching her return to the water made me realize that this pond was part of a much larger life cycle.

From that moment on, I began observing more carefully and more consistently.

First Hatchlings
Snapping Turtle September 2022

On September 11, 2022, I documented approximately seven snapping turtle hatchlings near the pond.

This observation confirmed successful nesting from earlier that summer.

It became one of the most meaningful moments in my long-term study.

A Turning Point
June 10 - 14 2023

On June 10, 2023, I recorded another snapping turtle laying her eggs near the pond.

Four days later, I found a snapping turtle that had been hit by a car near the pond.

The sudden contrast between new life and loss stayed with me.

New Hope
First Mating Obervation -  Snapping Turtles May 2024

After the losses I had witnessed, this moment reminded me that life here was still continuing.

In 2024 and 2025, I reached out to the city about installing warning signs and protective fencing near our pond.

Although I was told someone would follow up, no further action was taken.

That experience showed me that waiting was not enough.

So my family and I decided to take action. 








Preparing for our turtle protection project in Spring 2026. This work is still in progress, and I am learning every step.

Action!