Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, Seneca Falls

Overcast windy and some snow. Lot of birds on the move. Great place for water fowl and birds of prey. The kids and adults will love it. Bring your best camera with good zoom.👍

The train trip became a safari, at least as much of a safari as a land recovering from DDT and massive industrialization can muster. In the Serengeti, nature still populates the land with flocks and herds the way she has for hundreds of years. A countryside recovering from a Silent Spring when SET collapsed the food chain and almost wiped out the eagles can only be expected to field a minor display. But today, I was amazed. The train passed through a preserve at the north end of Cayuga Lake, the Montezuma National Refuge. I loved seeing hundreds of waterfowl swimming on the surface of ponds built for their welcome. I saw massive flocks of Canadian Geese flying overhead in chevron formations. Not the bigger flocks I've witnessed over Perry Michigan, but still impressive. The train rolled on and we entered a swamp with hundreds of silver, barkless snags standing tall in the water. On the top of many, I saw stick fortresses upon which herons lay their clutches of eggs. Upon each one, as resolute as an Episcopal verger, I saw the outlines of a blue heron standing guard. I'm not sure I have ever seen a rookery of this size before. But I noted its location upon my map, west of Weedsport and near the rail line. I could easily return for a visit while the rookery serves as a nursery for little herons. As the herons reach back to the days of the pterodactyl, I felt as if I were looking back eons. But this is the way the land prospered with wildlife in the 1800s. Hopefully, nothing delays or puts at risk this return to Eden.

We visited on a warm February afternoon. We saw a lot of water birds, including flights of swans and snow geese. The best view was seeing a dozen Bald Eagles out on the ice. Spectacular!

This is a very special place just 45 minutes drive from Rochester. Wonderful sanctuary for migrating and native birds. Oprey, herons and eagles nest here. Warblers are dripping off the trees during their spring and fall migrations. Hundreds even thousands of migrating snow geese. Sandhill cranes!! A picturesque driving loop plus many wonderful hiking trails. Sweet gift shop operated by The Friends. Montezuma is also a short drive to the local Audubon location. Both places are paradise for nature and bird photographers.

The volunteer ranger was very knowledgeable and we were lucky to run into a group of very serious birdwatchers who knew so much about the birds there! We greatly enjoyed our visit. Great place to bring your camera as well.