( 



c 



c 



The Sunny Point Ponds 



The Sunny Point ponds represent several stages in the 

 range of conditions described in the previous section. 

 Those suggested for inclusion in the Natural Landmarks 

 Program include ponds fringed by pond cypress with relatively 

 deep water centers, ponds bordered by a mixture of cypress 

 and pine with emergent shrub zones and shallow bog- like 

 ponds without woody vegetation. 



WTiile extensive observations have not been made at 

 Sunny Point, the key floral elements are present. One of 

 these ponds, for example, is adjacent to the site where 

 Beal and Quay (1968) initially collected the first North 

 Carolina specimen of Utricularia olivaceae . Myriophyllum 

 lax urn Is kniTwn to occur in the Sunny Point ponds and several 

 other rare plants are known from nearby ponds and are 

 probably present at Sunny Point. 



The Sunn}' Point ponds also appear to have the typical 

 vertebrate components. Birdlife is abundant. Wood Ducks, 

 Ospreys, and a variety of long-legged waders have been 

 observed In the ponds. Small songbirds including Prothonotary 

 and Yellow-throated Warblers are regular summer residents 

 where cypress fringes occur. 



Five ponds are being recommended as a natural landmark. 

 They were specifically chosen to represent a variety of 

 conditions often seen in such communities. All are in 

 relatively close proximity (see the enclosed raap) . They 



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