Lake Sara

Ecosystem Overview

The Lake Sara ecosystem supports 11 documented wildlife species across 11 taxonomic genera. Located in Effingham County, Illinois, this area provides critical habitat with diverse natural communities. The location hosts 3 frequently observed species and 2 occasionally documented species, creating a balanced ecosystem with both resident and visiting wildlife. Compared to nearby Effingham, Lake Sara hosts 175% more species diversity. This location ranks #2 for species diversity among 5 Effingham County County natural areas, placing it in the 60th percentile for biodiversity.

Biodiversity Highlights

Total Species

Documented wildlife species

Genus Diversity

Taxonomic genera represented

Common Species

Frequently observed species

Rare Species

Occasionally documented species

Regional Rank

Out of 5 locations

Species Distribution

Very Common3 species

Common3 species

Occasional3 species

Rare2 species

Regional Context

Regional Ranking

#2 of 5 locations

60th percentile for diversity

vs. Effingham

+175% species diversity

Ecosystem Overview

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Biodiversity Highlights

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Species Distribution

Very Common‌

Common‌

Occasional‌

Rare‌

Regional Context

Regional Ranking

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Most Common Species

Showing 20 most frequently observed species out of 11 total documented species.

Bombus impatiens

Common Eastern Bumblebee

Very Common1 obs.

Haliaeetus leucocephalus

Bald Eagle

Very Common1 obs.

Cathartes aura

Turkey Vulture

Very Common1 obs.

Sayornis phoebe

Eastern Phoebe

Very Common1 obs.

Petrochelidon pyrrhonota

Cliff Swallow

Very Common1 obs.

Spizella passerina

Chipping Sparrow

Common1 obs.

Battus philenor

Pipevine Swallowtail

Common1 obs.

Sciurus carolinensis

Grey squirrel

Common1 obs.

Haemorhous mexicanus

House Finch

Common1 obs.

Turdus migratorius

American Robin

Common1 obs.

Ardea herodias

Great Blue Heron

Common1 obs.

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Most Common Species

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Want the Complete Field Guide?

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Get Your Personalized Field Guide

Download a professional PDF field guide featuring all the species found in Lake Sara. Perfect for outdoor adventures, education, and nature exploration.

$6.99

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Regional Comparison

Regional Ranking

Species Count

-31%

vs. Regional Average

Compared to 4 nearby locations in Effingham County County, Illinois

Nearby Natural Areas

Effingham

Importance: 0.49

4 species

+175% vs. current

Effingham County

Importance: 0.48

56 species

-80% vs. current

Ballard Fishing Pond

Importance: 0.35

1 species

+1000% vs. current

Watson

Importance: 0.25

1 species

+1000% vs. current

About This Comparison

These comparisons are based on documented wildlife observations from citizen science data. Locations with higher species counts may have more observation activity, different habitat types, or larger coverage areas. Regional rankings help identify biodiversity hotspots and unique natural areas within Effingham County County.

Regional Comparison

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Regional Ranking

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Species Count

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vs. Regional Average

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Nearby Natural Areas

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About This Comparison

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Regional Comparison

Regional Ranking

Species Count

-31%

vs. Regional Average

Compared to 4 nearby locations in Effingham County County, Illinois

Nearby Natural Areas

Effingham

Importance: 0.49

4 species

+175% vs. current

Effingham County

Importance: 0.48

56 species

-80% vs. current

Ballard Fishing Pond

Importance: 0.35

1 species

+1000% vs. current

Watson

Importance: 0.25

1 species

+1000% vs. current

About This Comparison

Ecosystem Overview

Biodiversity Highlights

Total Species

Documented wildlife species

Genus Diversity

Taxonomic genera represented

Common Species

Frequently observed species

Rare Species

Occasionally documented species

Regional Rank

Out of 5 locations

Species Distribution

Very Common3 species

Common3 species

Occasional3 species

Rare2 species

Regional Context

Regional Ranking

#2 of 5 locations

60th percentile for diversity

vs. Effingham

+175% species diversity

Most Common Species

Showing 20 most frequently observed species out of 11 total documented species.

Bombus impatiens

Common Eastern Bumblebee

Very Common1 obs.

Haliaeetus leucocephalus

Bald Eagle

Very Common1 obs.

Cathartes aura

Turkey Vulture

Very Common1 obs.

Sayornis phoebe

Eastern Phoebe

Very Common1 obs.

Petrochelidon pyrrhonota

Cliff Swallow

Very Common1 obs.

Spizella passerina

Chipping Sparrow

Common1 obs.

Battus philenor

Pipevine Swallowtail

Common1 obs.

Sciurus carolinensis

Grey squirrel

Common1 obs.

Haemorhous mexicanus

House Finch

Common1 obs.

Turdus migratorius

American Robin

Common1 obs.

Ardea herodias

Great Blue Heron

Common1 obs.

Want the Complete Field Guide?

Get all 11 species with 3-4 high-quality images each, detailed descriptions, and a downloadable PDF for offline use.

Premium field guide includes identification tips, seasonal patterns, and professional layout optimized for field use.