I had a wonderful time surveying yesterday with Maya, a Student Conservation Association (CSA) summer intern, who came to the Refuge this week.  We had a perfect weather day and it was fantastic to be on the Refuge!  Most of the units were really quiet but, I saw Chuck at the VC and he said he saw a mama mallard with ducklings at the beginning of the Wildlife Drive when he drove through in the morning!!  Keep an eye out for ducklings, it is that time of year!! We found a lot of least sandpipers, a few short-billed dowitchers, semipalmated plovers, dunlin and two spotted sandpipers in the VC Wetland along with some ducks, Canada geese and Caspian terns. I did get a picture of one of the spotted sandpipers, but it was very hard to do because it was scurrying around, zigging and zagging this way and that!   Out on the Main Pool there was still a bunch of ruddy ducks and a pair of redheads. I didn’t see the ring-necked ducks or the lesser scaup, RATS!! Further along the Wildlife Drive I got a picture of an Eastern kingbird and a great blue heron behind some Dames rocket. Remember, even though they are beautiful, the Dames rocket is not native.  I also got a picture of a great blue heron that seems to be hanging around the Seneca Spillway lately.  As we approached, it flew up to the chain-link fence giving us an amazing view. Over by Benning Marsh we saw the two large, dark brown eaglets in the nest.  One was stretching its wings. Pretty soon those babies will be on their way. We also checked out the Sandhill Crane Unit along Van Dyne Spoor Road. There were dozens of black terns foraging in the back, southern part of the unit. We also saw 5 trumpeter swans at the East end of the road with some pied-billed grebes, gallinules and coots.

Hopefully, you can get out soon to explore and experience the Montezuma Wetlands Complex trails, towers and the Refuge Wildlife Drive.  The Wildlife Drive is now open for hiking and biking until mid-August.  E-bikes are allowed but riders must observe the 15 mph speed limit on the Drive. Visitors who want to hike or bike on the Wildlife Drive MUST leave their vehicle in the VC parking area.  Hikers access the Drive via the Seneca Trail and cyclists via the Wildlife Drive from the parking area.  Visitors should NOT exit and abandon their vehicle on the Wildlife Drive to hike or bike. Visitors in vehicles may exit their vehicle, BUT they must stay with their vehicle, no wandering.  Anyone on the Wildlife Drive must stay on the Drive and not go onto any dikes or into any impoundment areas!! The only exception is that visitors may hike the trail to the photo blind.

Dogs on a leash are only allowed in and around the Visitors’ Center and on the Seneca Trail. Dog owners must clean up after their dog and take it with them when they leave. Dogs on a leash are not allowed walking on the Wildlife Drive or Esker Brook Trails, ever.  In the Northern Montezuma Wildlife Management Area, the DEC had new Wildlife Management Area land-use regulations pass in 2022.  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.

Fishing is not allowed in any of the Refuge impoundments, but fishing is allowed in the waters, canals, rivers and lakes, around the Refuge. Last year I checked with the DEC staff about fishing and was told that visitors may fish in the Northern Montezuma Wetlands Management Area (WMA).  I asked about the ponds on Howland’s Island and other areas.  My source said people can fish in them, but he doesn’t know why anyone would want to as they are not particularly good places to fish.  He said that the rivers, streams, canals and lakes in and around the WMA are way better for fishing.

ENJOY the holiday weekend, be respectful and safe.