We are getting to the time of year when we are a little less birdy in most of our units compared to the numbers we see during migrations.  However, our hiking trails are getting more birdy as songbirds continue to arrive.  Many will stay for a while and nest here and a few will continue their migration northward. We have a few shorebirds at the Visitors’ Center Wetland and Benning Marsh. I was able to get a picture of a black-bellied plover that was in the VC Wetland on Sunday and Monday.  Linda B saw one at Benning Marsh during our survey yesterday. We also have had a couple of short-billed dowitchers, least and semipalmated sandpipers, semipalmated plovers and some killdeer.

On Monday morning I found a couple of mallard mamas with ducklings.  They were in the areas along I-90, but you might see them in any water areas along the Drive. I’m including a picture of dozens of great blue herons in the shallow water at Tschache Pool.  If memory serves me, I think we saw them do this last year as well. Babies R Us again at the Sandhill Crane Unit, along Van Dyne Spoor Road.  Yesterday we found several families of pied-billed grebes, American coots and common gallinules.  Sooo cute!!  There was still a group of 5 trumpeter swans in the area at the far eastern end of the road. My theory is that this is a family group and the kids are still hanging out with Mom and Dad this season.  Maybe the young ‘uns couldn’t afford their own place and NetFlix subscription so they are staying with their parents.  Feel free, any knowledgeable wildlife folks, to chime and correct me, my feelings won’t be hurt!! Sandhill crane families have been reported at Knox-Marsellus Marsh area (between the marsh and East Road) and West Shore Trail (off of Van Dyne Spoor Road in Savannah).

I’m putting out a Sound Challenge to folks.  If you don’t have it, download the free Merlin app. Then open the Merlin app, go to Explore Birds and put in marsh wren.  Choose the “sounds” tab, then the 4^th choice. That is most like what I hear when I am surveying. Listen to it and learn it. Marsh wrens have a very distinct sound and can be heard all along the Wildlife Drive and other units.  Please don’t play it so they can hear it (it is illegal to use playbacks on the Refuge and it is deemed unethical to disturb birds with calls in the wild). You can also record bird sounds using the Merlin app.  Open the Merlin app and choose “Sound Id” then touch the picture that looks like a microphone.  It should record birds it is hearing and will give you a picture and the name of the species.  Many times there will be more than one bird, but it highlights in yellow, the bird it is currently detecting. Fun app!!  The next time you are out there, listen for marsh wrens.  We hear them a lot but don’t often see them because they are small, quick and usually hidden in the cattails.

One of my readers was hoping I could label my pictures with the names of the birds.  There is probably some way to do it, but I don’t know how. Sorry. I attempt to put the pictures in the same order as the narrative.  Maybe this will help: the 1^st pic is the black-bellied plover in the VC Wetland, 2^nd pic is of mallard ducklings in the Main Pool, the 3rd pic is of younger mallard ducklings in the Main Pool, the 4^th pic is of great blue herons in Tschache Pool, the 5^th pic is of an adult pied-billed grebe w/ 3 babies, the 6^th & 7^th pics are of an adult American coot with 2 young, the 8^th pic is 2 young American coots, the last 2 pics are of trumpeter swans in the Sandhill Crane Unit.

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.  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, be respectful and safe.