I apologize for the late post this week.  I was unable to survey on Tuesday so Pete and I switched to Wednesday.  I guess it was just wishful thinking to imagine I would be able to produce a write up on a Thursday. On Thursdays, my husband and I watch our totally adorable, very active, 22 month-old granddaughter. She did her best for me and took a 2 hour nap during which I wrote a good amount.  However, I am not a gifted writer and it takes several hours for me to pull all the information and pictures together for a write up. I even tried after she woke up but she kept coming to my computer chair with her arms raised and the most adorable, angelic face. So, to put it simply, I ditched all you folks to hang out with my sweet granddaughter because Thursday is her day!! It is small consolation, but I will include today’s survey in this post so you will be up to date.

 Thursday, November 30 was the last day the Visitors’ Center and Wildlife Drive would be open for the season (sad face). If conditions allow both will reopen April 1, 2024 (happy face). We will continue bird surveys for as long as we have birds to count. A list will be posted in the VC sunroom and I will post email and website updates when I can (FYI: not on Thursdays).

  On Wednesday, after a few days of cold temperatures and windy conditions, most units were almost completely covered with ice. Brrrrr!! But it surprised me to see so many swans, hundreds, resting on the ice!  It was also cool, no pun intended, to see many ducks tucked between the swans!! I don’t know if they did that for warmth, protection, both or some other reason.  Feel free to chime in and let me know if you have information about that.

  On Monday morning, both adult bald eagles were on the new nest at May’s Point (observed from the left side of the deck)!  Around 10 on Monday, the sandhill cranes arrived in the VC Wetland.  They stayed almost all day.  At one point many were flying up in what I thought was their courtship dance. However, some flew up and were pushed backwards by the strong winds!! It was quite comical as they fought to land upright on their feet.  Eventually, the 25 cranes moved into two groups and appeared to become territorial.  Some from one group would run toward the other group members with necks and bills stretched out, then retreat. I have never seen that before! Again, feel free to enlighten me about this behavior!! On Wednesday, the VC Wetland appeared totally frozen with no birds detected.  However today, with far less ice, when I posted the list in the sunroom of the VC, there was a group of about 9 cranes in the general area they were in on Monday.

  Today, we surveyed May’s Point, the Sandhill Crane Unit and Tschache Pool.  As you will see on the list, we found very few birds. Ice cover was only about 30 to 45 percent, compared to 95 to 100 percent on Wednesday.

 The Seneca Trail will be open for hiking through December 10. On December 11 it will close for late bowhunting through December 19. It will reopen on December 20 through December 25 for hiking.  It will close again for hunting on December 26 through January 1, 2024.

  Remember that with the Wildlife Drive and future Seneca Trail closures, visitors may access Tschache Pool Tower, May’s Point Observation Deck, East Road Overlook and Van Dyne Spoor Road (seasonal road and may not be plowed if there is snow). Also, Refuge parking areas may not be plowed if there is snow.  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 18th, 2023. 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.” 

Pic #1: American coots Main Pool, #2: bald eagle pair May’s Point new nest, #3: double crested cormorant May’s Point Pool, #4:  2 male, 1 female hooded mergansers Main Pool, #5: hooded merganser pair Main Pool, #6: sandhill crane flock VC Wetland, #7: sandhill crane VC Wetland, #8: sandhill crane tracks Puddler Marsh dike (Pete’s pocket knife for size comparison), #9: area where sandhill cranes had foraged on Puddler Marsh dike, #10: area where sandhill cranes had foraged on Puddler Marsh dike, #11: area where sandhill cranes had foraged on Puddler Marsh dike.

 ENJOY, be respectful and safe.