I’ll start with some quick history.  I was fortunate to be at the Visitors’ Center on the solar eclipse day.  As many of you know, it was also my birthday.  I just found out yesterday that dozens of you knew about a celebration and not a single person let it slip.  HOLY COW, I had no idea and was TOTALLY SURPRISED!!  Between Mother Nature and my WONDERFUL Montezuma family I had a truly once in a lifetime birthday celebration! THANK YOU!!

Now to the good stuff, the birds!! I’m including Friday’s survey list as well as yesterday’s.  The Visitors’ Center Wetland has had a good diversity of dabbler ducks.  The Main Pool has had a good diversity of both dabblers and divers.  On Monday, April 15, I saw three female long-tailed ducks from Tschache Pool Tower. The heron colony seen from Tschache Pool Tower is full of herons and some appear to be incubating.

Yesterday I had several FOY, first of the year, sightings.  At May’s Point we saw a common gallinule (later at the Crane Unit we saw several more). Also, at the Crane Unit I watched an American bittern fly low over the cattails. If you remember, last year we had numerous sightings of American bitterns from Van Dyne Spoor Road. My last FOY were the great egrets seen from Van Dyne Spoor Road.

Hopefully, you can get out soon to explore and experience all the amazing things at the Montezuma Wetlands Complex trails, towers and the Refuge Wildlife Drive.  Remember, the Refuge Wildlife Drive is currently open to vehicles only. Dogs on a leash are only allowed in and around the Visitors’ Center and on the Seneca Trail.  The Seneca Trail is open from the parking area to the wooden observation deck (Centennial Deck). In the Northern Montezuma Wildlife Management Area, the regulations state that dogs must remain on a leash and under control of the owner at all times on any WMA property, with a few exceptions related to hunting. Also, folks must clean up after their pets. All of this information can be found here:  https://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/wildlife_pdf/p51expressterms.pdf  if you’d like to take a closer look.

Pic#1: bald eagle pair on Wildlife Drive, #2: adult bald eagle at the Sandhill Crane Unit, #3: blue-winged teal pair Main Pool, #4: great blue heron colony Tschache Pool, #5: great egret Sandhill Crane Unit, #6: female long-tailed ducks Tschache Pool, #7: sandhill crane Main Pool.

Sorry, there will be no write up next week.  There will be a survey on Tuesday and copies of the list will be posted in the sunroom, on the VC desk and in the store.

ENJOY, be respectful and safe.