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.

Spring

Summer

Autumn

Winter

Ecosystem - shaped by Beavers

Wildlife around the pond

2021 — A Sudden Change in the Pond

When we first moved here in 2021, the pond's water level was much higher. But in December, something unexpected happened.

Around December 15, the water level dropped rapidly. The ice had not yet melted, but as the water beneath it receded, large sections cracked and collapsed, leaving broken sheets of ice along the shoreline.

We later learned that the municipality had responded to a report of a blocked waterway by trapping and removing a beaver and using an excavator to clear the obstruction.

These photographs, taken on December 3, 15, and 26, capture the pond before, during, and after this dramatic change.

The First Turtle-Snapping Turtle June 2022

In June 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 Observation - Snapping Turtles May 2024

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

Signs Up! 2025

In 2025, we contacted the local municipality to request turtle crossing warning signs along the road beside our pond during the nesting season. Unfortunately, we never received a response. Rather than waiting, we decided to make and put up our own signs, hoping to remind passing drivers to slow down and watch out for turtles crossing the road.

Beyond the Pond
Sea Turtle Nesting Patrol in Hawaii 2025

In 2025, my family and I participated in an early morning sea turtle nesting patrol organized by the Hawaii Wildlife Fund. We walked along the beach looking for signs of nesting activity.

What struck me was how closely the turtles' nesting habitats overlapped with popular tourist areas. Litter left behind by visitors and nighttime human activities could disturb these animals during a critical stage of their lives.

The experience reminded me of our pond back home, where turtles face similar challenges when their natural habitats intersect with human activity.

2026 Managing the beaver Dam

In 2026, we turned our attention to the beaver dam and the rising water levels in our pond. Rather than removing the dam, we decided to work around it by installing our own six-inch drainage pipe beneath it, allowing excess water to flow through while keeping the dam largely intact.

It was a hands-on family project that brought us closer to understanding how challenging it can be to balance the needs of wildlife with those of the surrounding environment. The five-minute video documents our efforts, from installing the pipe to seeing how the system works.