LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – FOX5 has reported on a massive school of hundreds, if not thousands of goldfish at Cadence Pond in Henderson. The HOA says the problem started small with someone illegal dumping a fish or two but they rapidly reproduced. Now the fish are attracting something else to the park.
Over the last week or so, birds of prey that wouldn’t normally be spotted in a busy neighborhood are flocking to the popular Central Park in Cadence for an easy goldfish dinner. That is bringing out bird enthusiasts from around the Vegas Valley and creating new ones. Michael Anderson lives near the pond.
“I am not a big birdwatcher but when I see animals in action, I do like to check it out,” Anderson told FOX5. Anderson saw neighbors posting incredible pictures of the newest park residents on Facebook and went to see if he could spot an osprey. Anderson found it and took a photo of it sitting on a streetlight. Andersen seen the osprey three times now and a number of cormorants.
The birds are now swooping up so many fish, one even ended up in a front yard a block or so away. At first the homeowner was wondering how it got there but then saw neighbors posting raptor pictures on social media.
Professional wildlife photographers are also flocking here for some incredible shots, Anderson has spoken to several who freely share their knowledge about the birds.
“I met a lot of friends out here, learned a lot about birds,” Anderson revealed.
“I moved here in November, and I moved here to be close to Clark County Wetlands Park and the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve and I go to the park every single day,” reported Alex Harper with the Red Rock Audubon Society. Harper says now is a great time for birding because of spring migration.
“When they’re migrating, they’re generally pretty high up. They can see their options across the landscape. They have a lot of desert it that doesn’t look good. Some buildings also doesn’t look great, but if they see the Henderson bird viewing preserve, Clark County wetlands park and now cadence pond, these water sources all very close to one another. It’s inevitable that you’re going to get birds,” Harper explained.
Though the goldfish are not part of Nevada’s natural ecosystem, Anderson hopes they will be allowed to stay so he can continue to enjoy the incredible wildlife spectacle just steps from his front door.
“I know they are not supposed to be there but I hope the HOA doesn’t take them out,” Anderson shared.
Harper, who is also an ecologist, says there are concerns for Nevada’s ecosystem. Harper suggested it is possible goldfish eggs after they spawn could get onto the feathers of some of these birds. They might then fly to another water source, deposit those eggs and the goldfish could out compete native fish.
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