Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge

Contributed by: Rob Scott and Kurt Fox

Rating

Fall	Winter
Spring	Late Summer

Site history/background

Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge (MNWR) lies at the north end of Cayuga Lake, five miles east of Seneca Falls. The refuge serves primarily as a major resting area for migratory waterfowl, but is also managed to provide habitat to other birds, notably shorebirds. Montezuma NWR was established in 1938 with the purchase of 6,432 acres of the historic Montezuma marsh, much of which had been dammed and drained for agricultural purposes in the 1800s. Currently 3,500 acres of pools are managed, along with wooded areas, grasslands and wetland habitats on the refuge.

The Northern Montezuma Wetlands project, encompassing the refuge and 29,600 acres of the surrounding former marsh, is an attempt to broaden efforts to restore and preserve the marsh.

The Official Web page for MNWR is interesting. Please consider visiting the MNWR site provided by the Eaton Birding Society (EBS). GORP has two very useful pages, and descriptions. See page 1 and page 2.

Best Birding

In spring and fall, Montezuma is best known for migrating waterfowl. Migrant Snow Goose numbers in Spring are estimated at 100,000. In late Summer and early fall, shorebird habitat is managed. Winter is the slowest period since the shallow pools freeze early, but still may be worthwhile. Summer offers breeding species.

Regular Specialties

Waterfowl: Montezuma is an excellent place to view waterfowl. The spring and fall bring great numbers of ducks and geese to the refuge, and winter brings Tundra Swans and other hardy fowl to the refuge.
Bald Eagles: In 1976 the hacking, or releasing, of young Bald Eagles began at MNWR as a step toward reintroducing the species which had suffered mainly at the hands of DDT. Over the next four years, 23 eagles were released, and many have returned each year to nest at Tschache Pool. In fact, two nests were active on the refuge in 1994 and juveniles have fledged in 1995 as well. One eagle nest can still be seen from the observation tower at Tschache.
Osprey: Montezuma is home to several pairs of Osprey. One usually occupies the nest that can easily be seen from the headquarters building.
Shorebirds: Depending on water levels, the Benning's Marsh area of the auto loop and May's Point Pool host good numbers of shorebirds during fall and spring migrations.
Swallows: During fall migrations, all six NYS nesting swallows come to MNWR to roost, but the majority are. The numbers can be phenominal. Estimates vary from 20,000 to 500,000 or more.
Black Terns: In 1995 Black Terns built three nests and fledged seven young. The birds are often seen over the main pool.

Noteworthy Records

Annual: Eurasian Wigeon, Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Red-necked and Wilson's Phalarope, Long-billed Dowitcher, Peregrine Falcon, Merlin.

Rarities: Glossy Ibis, Little Blue Heron, Tri-colored Heron Sandhill Crane, Snowy Owl, Gyrfalcon, Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow, Ruff, Curlew Sandpiper, Ross's Goose, Am. White Pelican, King Rail, Yellow-headed Blackbird and many more not listed.

Interesting annual nesters: Bald Eagles, Osprey, Black Tern, Common Tern?, American Bittern, Least Bittern, Black-crowned Night-heron, Prothonotary Warbler, Cerulean Warbler.

Warnings

There is little area to walk at the refuge, the Esker Brook Trail, the area near the visitor's center, and short stretches of the Tschache and May's Point Pool dikes being the only exceptions. Please obey signs restricting access, and stay inside your car while on the auto loop.

Additional Notes

A checklist of birds as well as an auto touring pamphlet are available at the Visitor's Center. Be sure to drop by the center, sign the guestbook, and look at the bird log to note what's been seen. If the center is open, say hello; they are currently taking a survey of visitors to MNWR to determine the refuge's use and impact on the community, so be sure to fill one out. To contact the refuge:

: Refuge Manager
Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge
3395 Route 5 & 20 East
Seneca Falls, NY 13148
(315) 568-5987

Areas of interest

Visitor's Center The visitor's center has an observation deck from which you may see nesting Osprey, and has a number of boxes where tree swallows regularly nest. Nesting Canada Geese can also be seen here. This area is also the only place with rest rooms on the refuge--there are bathrooms in the center itself, as well as a freestanding pair on the way to the first observation tower. A walk through the picnic area brings one to an observation tower overlooking the Main Pool, where you can scope out ducks & geese, terns, and wading birds. Cerulean Warblers have nested in the trees here, and other warblers and flycatchers may be seen.

Wildlife Drive The 3.5 mile auto loop runs along a dike separating the Main Pool from the Cayuga/Seneca Barge Canal and is good for ducks, waders, and the occasional rail.

After passing the Main Pool, you round a corner and come upon Benning Marsh on the right. Depending on water level, Benning's Marsh is often excellent for shorebirds. Don't forget to check the edges of the Main Pool behind you, though, for Moorhen and Pied-billed Grebes. And please remain inside your vehicle.

The wildlife drive is closed in the winter months, but during those times cross-country skiing and snowshoeing is permitted on the drive.

North Spring Pool At the end of the auto loop, across Rte. 89, lies North Spring Pool. This pool often has herons and, in season, Great Egrets, as well as some ducks and kingfishers. Because of the drought conditions in 1995, as well as the Tschache management plan, the pool has hosted some numbers of shorebirds.

Tschache Pool (pronounced "shocky") After leaving the auto loop, turn right onto Rte. 89, and cross the bridge over the Thruway. Tschache is on your immediate left. Home of the current nesting pairs of Bald Eagles, and site of the hacking program, Tschache Pool has also hosted terns, waders, and migrating shorebirds. Currently the pool has been drawn down and is referred to as "Tschache Green".

May's Point Pool Further north on Rte. 89 from the Tschache Pool parking lot, on the right, is the entrance to the May's Point fishing area. A platform has been built here overlooking the May's Point Pool. When the water levels are drawn down here in the fall, this is often the best place to view shorebirds. It is also excellent for waders and waterfowl.

Esker Brook Trail The refuge's only walking trail winds along an esker and through brushy, moist habitat, as well as grassy former orchard habitat. It is a good place for warblers, vireos and flycatchers. To get to the Esker Brook Trail, backtrack from Tschache by travelling south just over one mile on Rte. 89. Make the first right (there is a sign for the Esker Brook Trail) and at the end of that short road, make a right again onto East Tyre Road. The trailhead is three tenths of a mile from that intersection.

Nearby Birding

Armitage Road On the north periphery of the refuge, the area along Armitage Road also provides good habitat for warblers and shorebirds if the conditions are right. To get to Armitage Road, travel north on NYS 89 past Tschache Pool and May's Point Pool. Continue past the May's Point Fishing Area north for approximately 1.5 miles. 89 intersects Armitage Road; take a left at this intersection and travel west.

In wet spring seasons, the fields on either side often host shorebirds, especially Black-bellied and American Golden Plover, Solitary Sandpiper, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, and the occasional rarer bird. Loggerhead Shrike spent several weeks here in the spring of 2000.

Continue west along Armitage Rd. Prothonotary Warblers occasionally nest in the trees along the streams, and can sometimes be seen by parking and scanning from the bridges. If you do find a Prothonotary, please don't leave the road and disturb the bird.

The Savannah Mucklands is rich soil bottomlands that often hold foraging Snow Geese (potential for Ross's Goose), sparrows and plovers (Buff-breasted Sandpiper possible).

Howland's Island

Interesting breeding bird site. Visit the Howland Island Wildlife Management Area site provided by the Eaton Birding Society (EBS).

The Mudlocks

Between the north end of Cayuga Lake and MNWR is the "mudlocks" on the Seneca River. This area often holds large numbers and variety of waterfowl. The area is best viewed from the east side. From the MNWR headquarters, head east on NYS Route 5/20. Just after crossing the Seneca River, turn right. Stay as close to the water as possible and peer between houses if necessary.

Cayuga Lake / Cayuga Marsh

At the north end of Cayuga Lake, on the west side is the Cayuga Marsh. This is great for marsh birds (rails, bitterns and the like). From NYS Route 5/20, travel south on NYS Route 89. Park near the railroad bed. Walk the railroad bed east - be careful of train traffic! After a 1/4 to a 1/2 mile, the marsh cna be viewed.

Seneca Landfill

An open landfill and foraging site for gulls. All the "white-winged" gulls (Iceland, Glaucous, Thayer's), and Lesser Black-backed have been recorded here. Recently, a second-winter "Nelson's Gull" was found there. From the Thruway (I-90), travel south on NYS Route 414. Watch the gulls. Soon you will find farm fields covered with gulls. Scan them. Since the landfill is closed on Sunday, birding on that day may not be appropriate.

Galen WMA

712 acres, upland, wetland, hiking trails, boat access, parking lot, birdwatching, camping, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, hunting, fishing and trapping. From Rochester, take the NYS Thruway east to exit 41 (NYS Route 414). Go north (left) for 8 miles on Route 414 to Clyde. As you enter the Village of Clyde turn west (left) on to Geneva Street which turns into Clyde Marengo Road. Go approximately 1 ½ miles and turn west (right) on to the River Road. You will enter the area within a few hundred yards.

From the NYS DEC site: The Galen Wildlife Management Area was purchased in 1980 with funds from the Wetland Preservation category of the 1972 Environmental Quality Bond Act. The main portion of the area has been designated the Ezra and Kate Heit Marsh unit as a memorial at the request of the former owner, William Heit, who partially gifted this tract of land to the people of the state.

The management area provides protection to a portion of the larger Galen Marsh, locally known as the Marengo Swamp. Farming activities and the harvest of forest products have been the predominant human uses of the area since the settlement of the area, and remain to be viable land uses today. Some cottage development along the river, construction of the Barge Canal in the early 1800's and its subsequent use, and some drainage of the marsh has occurred in the past years.

Directions

The visitor's center at Montezuma NWR is on NYS Rtes 5 & 20 between NYS Rtes 89 and 90. The New York State Thruway (I-90) cuts through the refuge, but the nearest exits are several miles away.

From the west:: Take I-90 to exit 41. Head south on 414 to the stop light; make a left here onto NY Route 318. Continue east on NY Route 318. This road will connect with 5 & 20 near the Rte. 89 intersection. Take 5 & 20 east to the MNWR main entrance, which is on the left side of the road.
From the east:: Follow 5 & 20 west from Auburn. After the road intersects with NYS 90, cross a green bridge and slow down; the main entrance is on the right soon thereafter.

Map Of MNWR

Facilities

There are restrooms at the visitor's center at Montezuma NWR is on NYS Route 5 & US Route 20 between NYS Routes 89 and 90. The restrooms at the headquarters may be looked, but often the restrooms between the parking lot and the Main Pool Tower are open throughout the year.

There is a restaurant at the intersection of NYS Route 5 & US Route 20 and NYS Route 90.

Gas and a public phone (to call in that rarity) can be found about 3 miles west in Magee - the intersection of NYS Routes 318 and 414. NYS Route 318 meets NYS Route 5 & US Route 20 just west of NYS Route 89

This page was last updated on 18 April 2001.