Yesterday’s survey was plagued with rain, fog and more rain. We gave up after we completed the units along the Wildlife Drive. Linda B assisted and we got wet surveying in the cab of a truck. The rain fell in, blew in and all of it made visibility extremely poor, RATS!! We were supposed to move on to Tschache Pool and I was supposed to stand in the back of the truck to survey. All I can say is, it’s official, I am a wuss!! I didn’t relish the idea of getting soaked to the skin for 4 hours to find a few birds in the foggy conditions at Tschache. Thankfully, Linda Z agreed!! YAY, THANKS, Linda!!
We have had a pair of sandhill cranes hanging out in the Visitors’ Center Wetland lately. On Monday I went out on the deck to get some pics and I saw one of them settle down into the vegetation. Sometimes when you can’t see them and you may think they have left, they could be laying down!! So, if you don’t see them feeding and walking around, get your bins and look more closely. Those rascals, I eventually found both of them resting on the ground!!
At the far north end of the Wildlife Drive, on the extension where the Drive curves to the left, there is a huge mass of gorgeous, tall, purple flowers. I discovered they are ironweed which thankfully is native to NYS. YAY!! I am also including a picture of some button bush along the Wildlife Drive. Keep these names in mind and come out to our Native Plant Festival on September 23 to see if our plant seller, The Plantsman, has these available.
Reuben is leading a shorebird walk at Tschache Pool on Saturday, August 19. If you are interested in joining, here is the link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/montezumas-guided-shorebird-walk-tickets-694164985157?aff=oddtdtcreator.
This week’s sound challenge is the American goldfinch. Go to Merlin, select “Explore” at the bottom, touch the search icon and type in American goldfinch. The third “song” choice and the second “calls” choice are normally what I hear, at the Refuge and at my home alerting me to their presence. I noticed that they have many songs and calls. You may have to do some Merlin sound recordings to learn their sounds in your habitat. ENJOY!!
FYI: the photo blind is temporarily closed for “biological monitoring.” It will reopen in a few weeks. Also, starting today, August 16, the Wildlife Drive is only open for vehicles. Walking and cycling will not be permitted again until May 2024.
I’m experimenting this time the with the pictures. It seems I am using up too much website space, oops, so I have resized the pictures and posted fewer today. I hope they look OK. Pic #1: sandhill crane VC Wetland, #2: sandhill crane VC Wetland, #3: ironweed Wildlife Drive, #4: ironweed Wildlife Drive, #5: button bush Wildlife Drive, #6: adult bald eagle spillway tree (081423), #7: adult bald eagle and first yr eagle across the Seneca-Cayuga Canal (081523), #8: 2 first yr bald eagles in spillway tree (081523), #9: first yr bald eagle across Seneca-Cayuga Canal (081523), #10: first yr bald eagle in spillway tree (081523), #11: young pied-billed grebe Main Pool, #12: peregrine falcon near Tschache Pool Tower, #13: swamp rose mallow Benning Marsh dike.
There will be a survey on Friday. The list will be posted in the Visitors’ Center but there will be no write up on Saturday. 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 that the folks at the DEC reported sedge wrens at the Montezuma Audubon Center and near their Morgan Road office.
ENJOY, be respectful and safe.
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