Hello and Happy Spring!!

There have been three Complex wide waterfowl counts in March.  The first two had lots of ice cover, but last week’s had lots of open water.  However, you probably already figured it out, that ducks, geese, swans, sandhill cranes, some raptors and songbirds are migrating northward. Yesterday, Pete saw ospreys on a couple of the nests along Routes 5 & 20!! Daily, there have been dozens of sandhill cranes and often swans in the Visitors’ Center Wetland with some ducks and Canada geese. In eight days, April 1, the Refuge Wildlife Drive and Visitors’ Center will reopen if conditions allow. Currently, the Seneca Trail is partially open to the restrooms and the southern part of the trail. Yup, we have nesting birds in the area again!! Please be respectful of our wildlife.  The Montezuma Audubon Center and the Northern Montezuma Wildlife Management Area (WMA) trails are open.

Here is a note from the Northern Montezuma Field Office of the DEC:

The NYS DEC Northern Montezuma Field Office is looking for a dedicated volunteer to monitor their Bluebird boxes. There are 45 Bluebird boxes scattered throughout Northern Montezuma WMA. The work would include cleaning out the boxes once in the late-winter/early spring prior to the breeding season, and checking the boxes two times over the spring/summer to monitor use. A data sheet will be provided to note use by birds or condition of the boxes. Most boxes are currently placed near DEC parking areas or along administrative roads and are easily accessible.

Anyone that thinks they might be interested in helping, or that would like additional details can email Courtney Arliss at Courtney.arliss@dec.ny.gov or by phone 315-365-2134.

Check out the flyers below, there are cool things going on now and in the future on the Wetlands Complex.

My regular surveys will resume on April 1 and my postings soon after, if conditions allow,

ENJOY, be respectful and safe.