We didn’t survey Tuesday, November 22 because most of the units were iced over with few birds. Last Friday Linda filled in for me to survey with Pete so I could celebrate Christmas with my family last weekend.  Even though the ice had melted there were relatively few birds on Friday. Pete was roving on Saturday and saw HUGE numbers of birds especially in the Main Pool.  It seems there was a change with the winds and other factors that were favorable for migration.

     Yesterday, we found lots of ringed neck ducks and swans on the Main Pool. There were way fewer dabbler ducks out there than a couple of weeks ago. However, there were loads of mallards and Canada geese at Knox-Marsellus Marsh. While we were down on the Knox dike we saw a fly-over flock of snow geese headed south!! Last weekend, Mike Tetlow found flocks of snow geese on Cayuga Lake. So, they are beginning to arrive in our area! On Monday, several visitors stopped in at the Visitors’ Center and said they wanted to take advantage of the more pleasant weather to have a last visit on the Wildlife Drive.  Yesterday, while surveying, we noticed MANY cars on the Drive. I suspect they too, were getting their last Montezuma visit before the high winds and rain come through as predicted. Today, November 30, is the last day that the Visitors’ Center and Wildlife Drive will be open for the season.  (Sad face, tears!!) Both will reopen on April 1, 2023, weather permitting.

     As a reminder, the season for firearms hunting of deer goes until December 11.  There will be way more people hunting in our area.  Please be super extra careful, especially when driving, as deer will be on the move, perhaps running and not paying attention to roads and vehicles. Waterfowl hunting goes until January 1, 2023 in several Refuge units on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. You could see people on the dikes in some of our units, they may be hunters and have permission to be there.

     Here is the breakdown for hiking trails at MNWR for December:

The Seneca Trail will close for hiking on December 12.

All trails will reopen for hiking on December 21 through December 25.

All trails will be closed again for hiking on December 26 through January 1, 2023.

     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.”

     As our season draws to a close, remember that you will still have access on the Refuge to Tschache Pool Tower, May’s Point Observation Deck, East Road Overlook and Van Dyne Spoor Road (along the Sandhill Crane Unit). Cayuga Lake State Park has good access for birding as does Seneca Lake State Park and the Geneva Chamber of Commerce. Also, there are many birding areas in the Sodus Point area up on Lake Ontario. In recent years we have had several snowy owls hang out at the Seneca Falls Airport during the winter. Or you can stay warm and dry and check out pictures and videos on the internet.  Soon bald eagles will be nesting in Florida and California.  Explore.org usually has several cams up for that.

     In addition to the two bird lists, I am including pics of the ring-necked and redhead ducks in the Main Pool, trumpeter swans in Knox, 2 adult bald eagles on the ice of the Main Pool on November 21, sandhill cranes on the west side of East Road about 1 mile south of the overlook, an adult bald eagle in the spillway tree, sandhill cranes and swans in the Main Pool, and an eastern screech owl napping in a tree.

     Many, many THANKS to the dedicated VC volunteers; folks working the desk, store and roving!! They have been a wonderful, informative resource for our visitors this year!! When I have information to share, I will post to the Friends’ website. In the meantime, I wish you all very Happy Holidays and a safe, healthy and prosperous New Year!!

ENJOY, be respectful and safe.