The Mountain Lakes Preserve is home to a diversity of birds, some common, some rare. eBird is a website and an app in which people (both professional birders and non-professional) can report their exact sightings of bird species. In the past few months, birders have reported sightings of many interesting species. Below is a list of some species that call Mountain Lakes home, and where to look to find them. This is only a fraction of the diversity that exists within the preserve.
Palmer Lake is home to a Great Blue Heron that is frequently seen on the dams or lake shores.
Great Horned Owls are elusive, but can be heard at dusk and dawn in the pine forest.
Pileated Woodpeckers often sound like a hammer hitting a tree when searching for food. They can be found in Witherspoon Woods in large, dead trees.
Cedar Waxwings are fairly common if you know where to look. They can be found along wood edges near a water source.
Eastern Meadowlarks can be found nesting on the ground of large meadows, such as Tusculum.
Although there is no Bald Eagle nest at Mountain Lakes, there have been several sightings of eagles flying over.