Sorry, there was no report yesterday.  Instead, I was at the Refuge and met the woman, Tina Millburn Morris, who was the graduate student from Cornell University who created the bald eagle hacking program in 1976 and ran it for two years before passing it on to the DEC!!  WOW!!  What an exciting and informative day!!  She is writing about that time and wanted to go out to Clark’s Ridge to refresh her memory about the physical location.  Linda Z drove us out there and spent the morning with us but had an important meeting to attend in the afternoon.  However, Pete and I spent the whole day with her.  It was an honor and a privilege.  What we learned is a whole separate story for another time, but she was hoping to maybe see one eagle during her visit.  You are probably chuckling about now.  Yup, at one place along the Tschache Pool service road she saw 6 immature bald eagles!!  Throughout her visit she saw about a dozen different bald eagles and several active eagle nests!!   She had wholeheartedly devoted herself to the eaglets and was heartened to know that her efforts had a positive influence on the bald eagle population.  A wonderful day was had by all!!

Maybe not as exciting, but equally important, I need to share that even though there is a break in waterfowl hunting until November 26, there will be a special veterans and active military waterfowl hunt on November 11 and 12. Early bowhunting opened on October 1 and goes through November 18.  Please be extra careful, especially when driving, as deer will be on the move, perhaps running and not paying attention to roads and vehicles.  So, sometimes you may see people on the dikes in some of our units.  They may be hunters and have permission to be there. The Esker Brook and South Spring Pool Trails are now closed to hiking. The Seneca Trail currently is available for hiking and closed to hunting. If you are interested in exploring Northern Montezuma here is a statement from the DEC:

“Northern Montezuma Wildlife Management Area provides excellent opportunities for wildlife-dependent recreation year-round. However, birders and other recreationists should be aware that there will be a higher amount of hunting activity on the area on the opening weekend of the regular deer hunting season, which starts November 19th, 2022. Visitors can choose to wear fluorescent orange clothing during open hunting seasons while taking advantage of all the wonderful recreational opportunities the WMA has to offer.”

There are still lots of ducks on the Main Pool.  I’m including pics of Tina Morris at what is left of the hacking tower, a ruddy duck on the Main Pool, the underside of the sweet gum tree by the Visitors’ Center, a late blooming Queen Anne’s Lace at May’s Point, 2 adult bald eagles in Tschache Pool taken from the tower, 3 immature bald eagles in a tree along the Tschache Pool service road, an immature eagle taking flight, a peregrine falcon in the spillway (eagle) tree, a male hooded merganser hanging out with 2 female common mergansers.

It appears that our Autumn splendor has faded, showing a lot of bare trees.  Remember to keep looking for nests now that so many trees have lost their leaves. Hopefully, you can get out to explore and experience our magical migration and the wonderful wildlife at the Montezuma Wetlands Complex trails, towers and the Refuge Wildlife Drive.  At the Refuge, dogs on a leash are only allowed in and around the Visitors’ Center and on the Seneca Trail.

ENJOY, be respectful and safe.