Re: [cayugabirds-l] Montezuma is great today!!! - out of car thread...

[Diana]

Hi All,
 I might as well put my head on the chopping block here too. As a photographer, 
I have to agree with Marie. Today there was hardly a bird within distance to 
photograph, and catching up with the people in front of me, they were all out 
of the car with scopes. There were no shorebirds left and I saw some fly by in 
their wake. Seeing birds in a scope is not nearly as satisfying as observing 
their behavior up close. Surely with so many places on the refuge where you can 
get out of the car, there can be one where photographers and birders alike can 
enjoy the closer views by using a vehicle as a blind.

Diana Whiting




Diana Whiting
dianawhitingphotography.com

> On Oct 18, 2015, at 5:23 PM, Marie P. Read  wrote:
> 
> As one those darned bird photographers, and at risk of being labelled a 
> killjoy, I feel must make a comment here. 
> 
> Kevin wrote:
>  stop and ask me what I’m looking at. If I could, I’d get out of my car (on 
> the passenger side) and flag people down to look at baby Virginia Rails or a 
> Least Bittern.>
> 
> My heart sinks at this, because I see those baby Virginia Rails and 
> definitely that shy Least Bittern immediately fleeing at the sight of a lot 
> of people suddenly and excitedly exiting their cars. Unless the birds were at 
> a distance and the flagger were using a scope. 
> Sigh!
> 
> Marie
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Marie Read Wildlife Photography
> 452 Ringwood Road
> Freeville NY  13068 USA
> 
> Phone  607-539-6608
> e-mail   m...@cornell.edu
> 
> http://www.marieread.com
> 
> Author of Sierra Wings: Birds of the Mono Lake BasinAvailable here:
> 
> http://marieread.photoshelter.com/gallery/Sierra-Wings-Birds-of-the-Mono-Lake-Basin/GNlCxX37uTzE/CBPFGij6nLfE
> 
> From: bounce-119792076-5851...@list.cornell.edu 
> [bounce-119792076-5851...@list.cornell.edu] on behalf of Kevin J. McGowan 
> [k...@cornell.edu]
> Sent: Sunday, October 18, 2015 4:04 PM
> To: Peter; Dave Nutter; Van Beusichem, Andrea
> Cc: CAYUGABIRDS-L
> Subject: RE: [cayugabirds-l] Montezuma is great today!!!
> 
> Snip: “The refuge grants this privilege - this break from the norm -  because 
> it considers it an educational opportunity/event for the visiting public - 
> one in which they can learn more about the refuge and the life it encourages. 
> “
> 
> Every birder I know is more than happy to tell anyone who asks what they’re 
> looking at and what’s cool about it. If everyone was allowed to stand outside 
> their car, looking through their scopes, the dialog, conversation, and 
> education would be constant, not just in special events.
> 
> Keeping the public in their vehicles decreases information flow and 
> potentially decreases the overall enjoyment and education of the public 
> passing through. As a compulsive educator, I find this stay-in-your-car! 
> policy to be frustrating and counter-productive. I constantly find cool birds 
> along the wildlife drive and hope someone will stop and ask me what I’m 
> looking at. If I could, I’d get out of my car (on the passenger side) and 
> flag people down to look at baby Virginia Rails or a Least Bittern.
> 
> But, I can’t do that, because I follow rules. So, I turn around in my car 
> seat and hope to make eye contact with other cars passing by. They can’t see 
> my face, and they all pass on by. If I was allowed to stand outside the car 
> they could see me and the level of education that occurs along the drive 
> would increase by more than an order of magnitude.
> 
> In my opinion.
> 
> Kevin
> 
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RE: [cayugabirds-l] Montezuma is great today!!! - out of car thread...

[Kevin J. McGowan]

From: Diana [mailto:whiti...@roadrunner.com] 
" Surely with so many places on the refuge where you can get out of the car, 
..."

Seriously? Where? You know the refuge. If you wanted to take a small group to 
see some birds, where would you go? Where could you get anywhere near close 
enough to anything interesting to engage a 10-year-old? The corral at Mays 
Point used to have birds, but there hasn't been habitat there for years. The 
towers and East Road have great stuff, but it's so far away you can't show a 
beginner anything. I'm a photographer and I take almost all of my photos from 
my car/blind. But, if we're talking education here, it just isn't happening.

For exposure to wildlife at all levels, access is key. Denying access to even a 
tiny sliver of the refuge serves no one's best interests, in my view. Blinds 
would be cool, and are used successfully all over the world, but they can't 
face south straight into the sun!

Kevin

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RE: [cayugabirds-l] Montezuma is great today!!! - out of car thread...

[Marie P. Read]

As one those darned bird photographers, and at risk of being labelled a 
killjoy, I feel must make a comment here. 

Kevin wrote:


My heart sinks at this, because I see those baby Virginia Rails and definitely 
that shy Least Bittern immediately fleeing at the sight of a lot of people 
suddenly and excitedly exiting their cars. Unless the birds were at a distance 
and the flagger were using a scope. 
Sigh!

Marie








Marie Read Wildlife Photography
452 Ringwood Road
Freeville NY  13068 USA

Phone  607-539-6608
e-mail   m...@cornell.edu

http://www.marieread.com

Author of Sierra Wings: Birds of the Mono Lake BasinAvailable here:

http://marieread.photoshelter.com/gallery/Sierra-Wings-Birds-of-the-Mono-Lake-Basin/GNlCxX37uTzE/CBPFGij6nLfE

From: bounce-119792076-5851...@list.cornell.edu 
[bounce-119792076-5851...@list.cornell.edu] on behalf of Kevin J. McGowan 
[k...@cornell.edu]
Sent: Sunday, October 18, 2015 4:04 PM
To: Peter; Dave Nutter; Van Beusichem, Andrea
Cc: CAYUGABIRDS-L
Subject: RE: [cayugabirds-l] Montezuma is great today!!!

Snip: “The refuge grants this privilege - this break from the norm -  because 
it considers it an educational opportunity/event for the visiting public - one 
in which they can learn more about the refuge and the life it encourages. “

Every birder I know is more than happy to tell anyone who asks what they’re 
looking at and what’s cool about it. If everyone was allowed to stand outside 
their car, looking through their scopes, the dialog, conversation, and 
education would be constant, not just in special events.

Keeping the public in their vehicles decreases information flow and potentially 
decreases the overall enjoyment and education of the public passing through. As 
a compulsive educator, I find this stay-in-your-car! policy to be frustrating 
and counter-productive. I constantly find cool birds along the wildlife drive 
and hope someone will stop and ask me what I’m looking at. If I could, I’d get 
out of my car (on the passenger side) and flag people down to look at baby 
Virginia Rails or a Least Bittern.

But, I can’t do that, because I follow rules. So, I turn around in my car seat 
and hope to make eye contact with other cars passing by. They can’t see my 
face, and they all pass on by. If I was allowed to stand outside the car they 
could see me and the level of education that occurs along the drive would 
increase by more than an order of magnitude.

In my opinion.

Kevin

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RE: [cayugabirds-l] Montezuma is great today!!!

[Kevin J. McGowan]

Snip: "The refuge grants this privilege - this break from the norm -  because 
it considers it an educational opportunity/event for the visiting public - one 
in which they can learn more about the refuge and the life it encourages. "

Every birder I know is more than happy to tell anyone who asks what they're 
looking at and what's cool about it. If everyone was allowed to stand outside 
their car, looking through their scopes, the dialog, conversation, and 
education would be constant, not just in special events.

Keeping the public in their vehicles decreases information flow and potentially 
decreases the overall enjoyment and education of the public passing through. As 
a compulsive educator, I find this stay-in-your-car! policy to be frustrating 
and counter-productive. I constantly find cool birds along the wildlife drive 
and hope someone will stop and ask me what I'm looking at. If I could, I'd get 
out of my car (on the passenger side) and flag people down to look at baby 
Virginia Rails or a Least Bittern.

But, I can't do that, because I follow rules. So, I turn around in my car seat 
and hope to make eye contact with other cars passing by. They can't see my 
face, and they all pass on by. If I was allowed to stand outside the car they 
could see me and the level of education that occurs along the drive would 
increase by more than an order of magnitude.

In my opinion.

Kevin


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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Montezuma is great today!!! - out of car thread...

[Kimberly Sucy]

The whole "out of the car" issue is why I wish there were photo/viewng blinds 
in the area across the road, where people could pull off the main drive into 
the old trail parking lot and share scopes, provide assistance, and take photos 
without obstructing the view of passing cars or disturbing wildlife unduly.
As someone who has led field trips with a caravan of cars and who has attempted 
to point out bird locations to new birders using bad bins while talking over 
FRS radios, this would be a HUGE improvement!   Eaton Marsh in particular is a 
wonderful shorebird spot, but horrible for new birders without great optics or 
fully developed spotting skills.  

And I saw baby Rails this year too - outside my car, in the designated viewing 
spot at Benning Marsh.  

-kimberly

On Oct 18, 2015, at 5:23 PM, Marie P. Read wrote:

> As one those darned bird photographers, and at risk of being labelled a 
> killjoy, I feel must make a comment here. 
> 
> Kevin wrote:
>  stop and ask me what I’m looking at. If I could, I’d get out of my car (on 
> the passenger side) and flag people down to look at baby Virginia Rails or a 
> Least Bittern.>
> 
> My heart sinks at this, because I see those baby Virginia Rails and 
> definitely that shy Least Bittern immediately fleeing at the sight of a lot 
> of people suddenly and excitedly exiting their cars. Unless the birds were at 
> a distance and the flagger were using a scope. 
> Sigh!
> 
> Marie
> 


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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Montezuma is great today!!!

[Gary Kohlenberg]

Well said Kevin !

On Oct 18, 2015, at 4:04 PM, Kevin J. McGowan 
> wrote:

Snip: "The refuge grants this privilege - this break from the norm -  because 
it considers it an educational opportunity/event for the visiting public - one 
in which they can learn more about the refuge and the life it encourages. "

Every birder I know is more than happy to tell anyone who asks what they're 
looking at and what's cool about it. If everyone was allowed to stand outside 
their car, looking through their scopes, the dialog, conversation, and 
education would be constant, not just in special events.

Keeping the public in their vehicles decreases information flow and potentially 
decreases the overall enjoyment and education of the public passing through. As 
a compulsive educator, I find this stay-in-your-car! policy to be frustrating 
and counter-productive. I constantly find cool birds along the wildlife drive 
and hope someone will stop and ask me what I'm looking at. If I could, I'd get 
out of my car (on the passenger side) and flag people down to look at baby 
Virginia Rails or a Least Bittern.

But, I can't do that, because I follow rules. So, I turn around in my car seat 
and hope to make eye contact with other cars passing by. They can't see my 
face, and they all pass on by. If I was allowed to stand outside the car they 
could see me and the level of education that occurs along the drive would 
increase by more than an order of magnitude.

In my opinion.

Kevin

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RE: [cayugabirds-l] Montezuma is great today!!! - out of car thread...

[Glenn Wilson]

I do not mind staying in my car.

However, EVERY TIME I drive through the wildlife drive, Several vehicle's
worth of people do get out and this simply isn't fair.

Glenn

-Original Message-
From: bounce-119792525-25849...@list.cornell.edu
[mailto:bounce-119792525-25849...@list.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of Diana
Sent: Sunday, October 18, 2015 8:27 PM
To: Kevin J. McGowan
Cc: Marie P. Read; Dave Nutter; Van Beusichem, Andrea; CAYUGABIRDS-L
Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] Montezuma is great today!!! - out of car
thread...

Van Dyne Spoor, the ponds at Railroad St, the platform on Savannah Springs
Rd., Esker Brook.   I guess my real point is the drive is the only place
where you can't be out of a vehicle.  A blind would solve a lot of issues
and I agree that the one there, while put in with good intentions, is not
really useful with its southern view. I wish our birds were tolerant like
Florida, but they just aren't and when people are out of their car they
flee. The drive does provide spots to get out of the car, but everyone
jumping out wherever they want to just leaves nothing for people coming
afterwards. The flock of Dunlins I saw flying did not return to Eaton Marsh
even after a couple hours. Believe me, I am all for engaging people young
and old in the wonders of birds, but some of us like to observe behavior
that is only earned by having a low profile.

Respectfully,
 Diana

Diana Whiting
dianawhitingphotography.com

> On Oct 18, 2015, at 7:21 PM, Kevin J. McGowan  wrote:
> 
> From: Diana [mailto:whiti...@roadrunner.com] " Surely with so many 
> places on the refuge where you can get out of the car, ..."
> 
> Seriously? Where? You know the refuge. If you wanted to take a small group
to see some birds, where would you go? Where could you get anywhere near
close enough to anything interesting to engage a 10-year-old? The corral at
Mays Point used to have birds, but there hasn't been habitat there for
years. The towers and East Road have great stuff, but it's so far away you
can't show a beginner anything. I'm a photographer and I take almost all of
my photos from my car/blind. But, if we're talking education here, it just
isn't happening.
> 
> For exposure to wildlife at all levels, access is key. Denying access to
even a tiny sliver of the refuge serves no one's best interests, in my view.
Blinds would be cool, and are used successfully all over the world, but they
can't face south straight into the sun!
> 
> Kevin
> 
> --
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> 
> Please submit your observations to eBird:
> http://ebird.org/content/ebird/
> 
> --

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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Montezuma is great today!!! - out of car thread...

[Diana]

Van Dyne Spoor, the ponds at Railroad St, the platform on Savannah Springs Rd., 
Esker Brook.   I guess my real point is the drive is the only place where you 
can't be out of a vehicle.  A blind would solve a lot of issues and I agree 
that the one there, while put in with good intentions, is not really useful 
with its southern view. I wish our birds were tolerant like Florida, but they 
just aren't and when people are out of their car they flee. The drive does 
provide spots to get out of the car, but everyone jumping out wherever they 
want to just leaves nothing for people coming afterwards. The flock of Dunlins 
I saw flying did not return to Eaton Marsh even after a couple hours. Believe 
me, I am all for engaging people young and old in the wonders of birds, but 
some of us like to observe behavior that is only earned by having a low profile.

Respectfully,
 Diana

Diana Whiting
dianawhitingphotography.com

> On Oct 18, 2015, at 7:21 PM, Kevin J. McGowan  wrote:
> 
> From: Diana [mailto:whiti...@roadrunner.com] 
> " Surely with so many places on the refuge where you can get out of the car, 
> ..."
> 
> Seriously? Where? You know the refuge. If you wanted to take a small group to 
> see some birds, where would you go? Where could you get anywhere near close 
> enough to anything interesting to engage a 10-year-old? The corral at Mays 
> Point used to have birds, but there hasn't been habitat there for years. The 
> towers and East Road have great stuff, but it's so far away you can't show a 
> beginner anything. I'm a photographer and I take almost all of my photos from 
> my car/blind. But, if we're talking education here, it just isn't happening.
> 
> For exposure to wildlife at all levels, access is key. Denying access to even 
> a tiny sliver of the refuge serves no one's best interests, in my view. 
> Blinds would be cool, and are used successfully all over the world, but they 
> can't face south straight into the sun!
> 
> Kevin
> 
> --
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[cayugabirds-l] Turkey Vultures moving

[Gary Kohlenberg]

On my way back from Cortland this afternoon I drove Turkey Hill Rd. to the 
house, on seeing a few TV's I pulled over to scan. I counted 141 in 25 minutes 
along with 3 Red-tailed Hawks. All appeared to be south bound migrants catching 
the tail end of clearing weather. This may bode well for sky watching tomorrow. 
Gary 


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Re: [cayugabirds-l] White-cheeked Pintail, Montezuma

[Dave Nutter]

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[cayugabirds-l] Montezuma yesterday (Saturday)

[Sandy Wold]

The following was seen 10AM-11AM yesterday around the Visitor Center:  I
estimate two or three dozen Short-billed Dowitcher with two Long-billed
Dowitchers (which were a few inches taller) and one dunlin in the mix.
 (apologies if I wrote greater and lesser on my phone!  was very excited
and wanted to share!)  Peter Saracino was there with his scope helping out
visitors, and he confirmed.  We could hear Killdeer, saw two Northern
Harriers, and two Greater Yellowlegs as well.

Wildlife Drive (11AM-12:30PM):  so many ducks!!!  Up close to the road for
excellent views seen of two Northern Shovelers and dozens of Green-winged
Teal, ringed-necks, pintails (with awesome blue-color in the bill),
American wigeons,  and about six coots.  Farther out I could see what
looked like many hundreds of scaup with many many Ringed-necks in their
mix.  I identified the farther ones out by their white markings (no
scope!).  The sun cooperated perfectly to make this easy!  Lastly, I saw a
few solitary Pied-billed Grebes here and there...and one lone Tree Swallow
(based on tail and teal color) hunting over the marsh!

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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Montezuma yesterday (Saturday)

[Peter]

Thanks Sandy.
Just to "correct", I believe the majority of dowitchers at the refuge 
yesterday were of the long-billed variety.
Pete Saracino

On 10/18/2015 11:05 AM, Sandy Wold wrote:
> The following was seen 10AM-11AM yesterday around the Visitor Center: 
>  I estimate two or three dozen Short-billed Dowitcher with two 
> Long-billed Dowitchers (which were a few inches taller) and one dunlin 
> in the mix.  (apologies if I wrote greater and lesser on my phone! 
>  was very excited and wanted to share!)  Peter Saracino was there with 
> his scope helping out visitors, and he confirmed.  We could hear 
> Killdeer, saw two Northern Harriers, and two Greater Yellowlegs as well.
>
> Wildlife Drive (11AM-12:30PM):  so many ducks!!!  Up close to the road 
> for excellent views seen of two Northern Shovelers and dozens of 
> Green-winged Teal, ringed-necks, pintails (with awesome blue-color in 
> the bill), American wigeons,  and about six coots.  Farther out I 
> could see what looked like many hundreds of scaup with many many 
> Ringed-necks in their mix.  I identified the farther ones out by their 
> white markings (no scope!).  The sun cooperated perfectly to make this 
> easy! Lastly, I saw a few solitary Pied-billed Grebes here and 
> there...and one lone Tree Swallow (based on tail and teal color) 
> hunting over the marsh!
> --
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[cayugabirds-l] Rusty Blackbirds @ SSW

[Suan Hsi Yong]

For this morning's bird walk, we had a flock of about a dozen rusty
blackbirds near Sherwood Platform, first foraging low by one of the small
ponds, then gathering in one of the trees. Also there were some
yellow-rumped warblers and ruby-crowned kinglets, and many white-throated
sparrows throughout. Closer to Owens Platform I heard a red-bellied-like
call which I vaguely recall concluding last year as being from a winter
wren, but didn't tracked it down. A cooper's hawk was seen a couple times
patrolling the back pond, which has lots of wood ducks including brilliant
males.

Suan

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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Montezuma is great today!!!

[Peter]

Greetings folks.
Just to shed light on Dave's note about being allowed to get out of 
one's car to get a "better view".
One of the ways a person can volunteer at the Refuge is by being a 
"Roving Naturalist".
The Naturalist is given a refuge vehicle and spotting scope and is 
allowed to visit various locations on the refuge (only those locations 
that members of the public are normally allowed to go on) (unless 
permission is given as when Dave and others do the shorebird walks in 
the late summer and fall).
Usually the volunteer visits various locations around the refuge and if 
s/he sees something of note (a perched eagle or falcon; a good 
collection of various species of shorebirds; a good collection of 
various species of waterfowl) s/he is allowed to get out of the vehicle 
and set up the scope and invite members of the public to "have a view". 
Often the volunteer is simply set up on the deck at the Visitor's Center 
where many visitors tend to congregate. Very often these folks are 
people who are NOT expert birders and need a hand with identification or 
just have general questions about the refuge.
The refuge grants this privilege - this break from the norm - because it 
considers it an educational opportunity/event for the visiting public - 
one in which they can learn more about the refuge and the life it 
encourages.
As previously indicated, the position is of a /*volunteer*/ nature and 
usually occurs on times of peak usage - Friday thru Sundays during Fall 
and Spring migration.
All this being said, if one is interested in helping out in this 
fashion, it is necessary to contact Andrea at the Refuge for further 
information.
I hope this helps clarify a bit.
Pete Saracino
PS: I see that Andrea has been c.c.'d on this email so she can certainly 
add to (or correct) anything I have said.

On 10/17/2015 10:30 PM, Dave Nutter wrote:
> Although I did not see Sandy, and have not yet seen her full report, I 
> agree, it was a fine day at Montezuma NWR. I went there today with Ann 
> Mitchell and met up with Matt Medler hosting a small international 
> group of birders. Later we also met Gary Kohlenberg, David Fitch, Doug 
> Green, and video-streamer Ferris Akel at East Road.
>
> Ann & I went north on the east side of Cayuga Lake pausing briefly at 
> Myers Point and Long Point State Park for scans of the shore and lake, 
> but the waves were so high and the heat shimmer so dense that I saw no 
> birds out on the lake, and only the usual gulls, geese, and cormorants 
> on & near shore plus 1 Greater Yellowlegs hunched in Salmon Creek. 
> Admittedly, I didn't put much time & effort into searching for 
> scoters, Brant, or jaegers. Although I was dressed for the weather, I 
> was not psychologically prepared to stand for long in a strong, damp, 
> 30-something degree wind. If Ann had at least gotten out of the car it 
> might have seemed less of a dumb thing to do.
>
> At the Montezuma NWR Visitor Center, however, we both got out and 
> enjoyed views of a flock of 13 flighty Dunlin, a flock of 23 flighty 
> dowitchers, most if not all appearing to be Long-billed, although at 
> this late date I did not scan them carefully before they moved to a 
> harder-to-see part of the pond, at least one Pectoral Sandpiper 
> foraging among clumps of mud, at least one each of Greater and Lesser 
> Yellowlegs, and a good variety of Anas genus ducks - Gadwall, Mallard, 
> Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, and Green-winged Teal. The males 
> of Mallard & Gadwall were in breeding plumage already, but other 
> dabbler males were not all so brightly colored yet. There were also 
> Canada Geese overhead and brief views of Great Blue Heron, Northern 
> Harrier, and Bald Eagle.
>
> The Main Pool has benefitted from the drawdown earlier this year 
> allowing a lush growth of smartweed, whose seeds will feed many 
> waterfowl, but now that the pool is refilled the weeds can hide many 
> ducks. And there are many ducks. Thousands of ducks briefly take 
> flight when a Bald Eagle flies over. In addition to the 
> above-mentioned species, in various openings we saw lots of American 
> Wigeon (Eurasian Wigeon has been reported, but we missed it) and 
> Ring-necked Ducks, a few Wood Ducks, Blue-winged Teal, Lesser Scaup, 
> and Ruddy Ducks, and at least one Redhead. There were also American 
> Coots and a few Pied-billed Grebes.
>
> We heard reports that someone saw and photographed what they and 
> people at the refuge who saw the photos believe was an unprecedentedly 
> rare White-cheeked Pintail at the Main Pool this morning. Please, 
> anyone who thinks they may have seen this bird, publicize the photos 
> and description.
>
> We also learned of an interesting new policy at Montezuma NWR from 
> volunteer Pete Saracino. On weekends when a volunteer is present to 
> show birds to the public, people may get out of their cars to join 
> said volunteer. I jumped at the chance. This is great for people on 
> weekends who want 

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Montezuma is great today!!!

[Glenn Wilson]

Some days half of the people get out of their cars regardless of signs. 

Glenn Wilson
Endicott, NY
www.WilsonsWarbler.com

On Oct 18, 2015, at 12:53 PM, Peter  wrote:

Greetings folks.
Just to shed light on Dave's note about being allowed to get out of one's car 
to get a "better view".
One of the ways a person can volunteer at the Refuge is by being a "Roving 
Naturalist". 
The Naturalist is given a refuge vehicle and spotting scope and is allowed to 
visit various locations on the refuge (only those locations that members of the 
public are normally allowed to go on) (unless permission is given as when Dave 
and others do the shorebird walks in the late summer and fall).
Usually the volunteer visits various locations around the refuge and if s/he 
sees something of note (a perched eagle or falcon; a good collection of various 
species of shorebirds; a good collection of various species of waterfowl) s/he 
is allowed to get out of the vehicle and set up the scope and invite members of 
the public to "have a view". Often the volunteer is simply set up on the deck 
at the Visitor's Center where many visitors tend to congregate. Very often 
these folks are people who are NOT expert birders and need a hand with 
identification or just have general questions about the refuge.
The refuge grants this privilege - this break from the norm -  because it 
considers it an educational opportunity/event for the visiting public - one in 
which they can learn more about the refuge and the life it encourages.  
As previously indicated, the position is of a volunteer nature and usually 
occurs on times of peak usage - Friday thru Sundays during Fall and Spring 
migration. 
All this being said, if one is interested in helping out in this fashion, it is 
necessary to contact Andrea at the Refuge for further information.  
I hope this helps clarify a bit.
Pete Saracino
PS: I see that Andrea has been c.c.'d on this email so she can certainly add to 
(or correct) anything I have said.

> On 10/17/2015 10:30 PM, Dave Nutter wrote:
> Although I did not see Sandy, and have not yet seen her full report, I agree, 
> it was a fine day at Montezuma NWR. I went there today with Ann Mitchell and 
> met up with Matt Medler hosting a small international group of birders. Later 
> we also met Gary Kohlenberg, David Fitch, Doug Green, and video-streamer 
> Ferris Akel at East Road.
> 
> Ann & I went north on the east side of Cayuga Lake pausing briefly at Myers 
> Point and Long Point State Park for scans of the shore and lake, but the 
> waves were so high and the heat shimmer so dense that I saw no birds out on 
> the lake, and only the usual gulls, geese, and cormorants on & near shore 
> plus 1 Greater Yellowlegs hunched in Salmon Creek. Admittedly, I didn't put 
> much time & effort into searching for scoters, Brant, or jaegers. Although I 
> was dressed for the weather, I was not psychologically prepared to stand for 
> long in a strong, damp, 30-something degree wind. If Ann had at least gotten 
> out of the car it might have seemed less of a dumb thing to do.
> 
> At the Montezuma NWR Visitor Center, however, we both got out and enjoyed 
> views of a flock of 13 flighty Dunlin, a flock of 23 flighty dowitchers, most 
> if not all appearing to be Long-billed, although at this late date I did not 
> scan them carefully before they moved to a harder-to-see part of the 
> pond, at least one Pectoral Sandpiper foraging among clumps of mud, at least 
> one each of Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, and a good variety of Anas genus 
> ducks - Gadwall, Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, and 
> Green-winged Teal. The males of Mallard & Gadwall were in breeding plumage 
> already, but other dabbler males were not all so brightly colored yet. There 
> were also Canada Geese overhead and brief views of Great Blue Heron, Northern 
> Harrier, and Bald Eagle. 
> 
> The Main Pool has benefitted from the drawdown earlier this year 
> allowing a lush growth of smartweed, whose seeds will feed many waterfowl, 
> but now that the pool is refilled the weeds can hide many ducks. And there 
> are many ducks. Thousands of ducks briefly take flight when a Bald Eagle 
> flies over. In addition to the above-mentioned species, in various openings 
> we saw lots of American Wigeon (Eurasian Wigeon has been reported, but we 
> missed it) and Ring-necked Ducks, a few Wood Ducks, Blue-winged Teal, Lesser 
> Scaup, and Ruddy Ducks, and at least one Redhead. There were also American 
> Coots and a few Pied-billed Grebes.
> 
> We heard reports that someone saw and photographed what they and people at 
> the refuge who saw the photos believe was an unprecedentedly rare 
> White-cheeked Pintail at the Main Pool this morning. Please, anyone who 
> thinks they may have seen this bird, publicize the photos and description.
> 
> We also learned of an interesting new policy at Montezuma NWR from volunteer 
> Pete Saracino.