Courtesy/Tani Hurley Public Relations

The lakes at The Reserve at Estero attract a variety of wading birds.

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ESTERO — Each morning residents at The Reserve at Estero, a Toll Brothers community on Estero Parkway, are treated to a sight that would make any Audubon enthusiast envious. Wading birds of every variety flock to the community’s lakes.

“On a recent morning, one of our residents counted 11 cormorant, six wood storks, a blue heron and more than a dozen egrets in the southwest lake,” said Gary Hains, assistant vice president for Toll Brothers. “Since December, we’ve regularly had a flock of ibis marching through the yards.”

Hains said that there have been ducks in the pond for more than a year, but the number and variety of birds has increased dramatically this season.

“We’ve even had osprey diving in the lakes,” he said.

The five lakes within The Reserve at Estero were created not only for aesthetic value but as a conservation measure. When designing and permitting a water management system for a project within the South Florida Water Management District, approximately 12 to 15 percent of the site acreage is used for lake area, according to Corey Clive, director of land development for Toll Brothers. At The Reserve at Estero, the lakes were designed with sinuous lake edges and sides with a sloping ratio that resemble natural bodies of water.

“Lake littorals have been planted to help treat stormwater run-off directed into the lakes,” he said. “Ecologists describe littoral vegetation and suggest a configuration that will maximize the biological growth within a wet retention pond. They also include suggested depths to optimize aquatic plant growth during extreme drought and flood periods. From Toll Brothers’ point-of-view, the type of plants, soils used as a sub-base, and the origin and condition of the installed plant material, are certainly the most important aspects of the project.”

Vegetation along the shoreline provides a breeding ground for aquatic life and a fertile feeding ground for wading birds.

The lakes also have a lake aeration system in place to help promote water quality. Again, there’s an added bonus: Lighted at night, the fountains provide a pleasing view for lakeside homes.

Irrigation water for the community is pumped out of the lakes, and wells are utilized to pump water back into the lakes, restoring the water used for irrigation, according to Clive. As permitted, the volume of water pumped into the lakes cannot exceed the amount withdrawn from the lakes for irrigation.

For the feathered hunters — herons, egrets, ibis, storks — the dry season of November through May provides excellent feeding conditions as retreating waterlines trap fish, crayfish, and other aquatic organisms. Fertile feeding areas, especially in and near the Everglades, also provide perfect sites for nesting colonies.

“We designed The Reserve at Estero to give many of the homes beautiful lake views,” Hains said. “The abundance of wading birds is an added attraction that makes living in this community special.”

The Reserve at Estero will include 494 single-family homes when complete. Nine designs are offered. Each plan offers a selection of four exterior designs and includes features such as coffered ceilings in the master suite, gourmet kitchens and architectural detailing. Community amenities include a clubhouse with community room, catering kitchen, fitness center, aerobics room and billiards room. Outdoors is a resort-style community pool with spa, tennis courts and a sports court.

Located ½-mile east of U.S. 41, The Reserve at Estero offers four designer-furnished models open for viewing daily. Models include the San Rio, a three-bedroom, 2.5 bath home; the Tosara, a four-bedroom, 2.5-bath design with a two-story living room; the Carmona, a two-story home with three bedrooms, 2.5 baths; and the Gianna, a flexible two-story design with three bedrooms plus study and an upstairs bonus room, which recently earned four Parade of Homes awards.

To visit the sales center from Interstate 75, take Exit 123, Corkscrew Road west to Three Oaks Parkway. Turn right and proceed north to Estero Parkway. Make a left, heading west. The Reserve at Estero will be on the right.