Throughout May, Ill be conducting the 10th annual Spring Bird Quest (SBQ) on preserves of the Finger Lakes Land Trust throughout our region. The SBQ has three purposes:
* To give birders of all skill levels an opportunity to come together and enjoy birds at some of the finest spots in our area, at the best time of year * To spread the word the Land Trusts role in preserving vital habitat for the birds we love * To raise funds to support the Land Trusts continuing work. In the past, weve held the event only on Memorial Day weekend, but this year, we will have SBQ activities on all five weekends in the month. There will be no fewer than eight public walks, including several at beautiful sites that we Ithaca birders almost never think to visit. See below for the schedule. (Some sites are far from Ithaca. I can offer rides from northeast Ithaca for up to three people. Contact me if youre interested.) All the walks are free; donations on the spot are most welcome but not at all required. Moreover, Ill be counting bird species found at the preserves over the month and raising pledge money per species. Proceeds from the first nine SBQs have exceeded $35,000. I have a crazy hope of raising $10,000 for the 10th SBQ, from at least 100 donors. In support of this goal, a supporter of the SBQ and the Land Trust has pledged $10 per donor up to 100 donors. Can you help us to achieve these goals? If youre interested in pledging, please contact me. You may also donate a flat amount online at http://www.fllt.org/donate/. And it would be fantastic some of you might do your own species count and raise your own pledges. Let me know if youre interested. I look forward to seeing many of you out on the walks next month! Mark Chao Saturday, May 2 (Rain date May 3) 8:00 AM Wesley Hill Nature Preserve Come and visit the mature forests of Wesley Hill, our westernmost preserve, home to Briggs Gully and sweeping views of the hills surrounding Honeoye Lakes southern end. Directions: From Honeoye, take Rt. 20A east to East Lake Road. Follow East Lake Rd. south for a short distance and then turn left on County Rd. 33. Continue a short distance and turn right on Pinewood Hill Rd. Follow Pinewood Hill, then Gulick Road south toward Cumming Nature Center, for a total of 6.4 miles to preserve entrance, on right. (This preserve is about 1 hour and 50 minutes from Ithaca.) Saturday, May 9 (Rain date May 10) 8:00 AM Bahar Nature Preserve and Carpenter Falls at 8:00 am This preserve includes a forested ravine alongside Bear Swamp Creek as well as 65 feet of Skaneateles lakeshore. After this walk, head over to the High Vista Preserve for more birding! Directions: From Route 38 in Moravia, take Route 38A north for about 6.9 miles. Turn right onto Burdock Street, and continue for one mile after Burdock turns into New Hope Road. Turn left onto Rt. 41A north, then right (east) on Appletree Point Rd. and follow for 1.6 miles to parking area, on left. Saturday, May 9 (Rain date May 10) 10:30 AM High Vista Preserve Join us for a walk high above the eastern shore of Skaneateles Lake at this diverse hillside forest full of songbirds. Directions: From Bahar Nature Preserve & Carpenter Falls, head southeast on Carver Rd. toward Glen Cove Rd., then turn left on N. Glen Haven Rd. After 5 miles, turn right onto Glen Haven Rd./E. Lake Rd., then turn left onto Vincent Hill Rd. The parking area will be on the left. >From Rt. 41 south of Skaneateles, turn onto Vincent Hill Road West, just north of the Cortland/Onondaga County line. After about 1/3 mile, the road bends to the southwest and there is a small parking area on the right-hand side. Saturday, May 16 8:00 am VanRiper Conservation Area and Whitlock Nature Preserve, Romulus Bird walk led by the Eaton Birding Society Ill plan to join the Eaton Birding Society on this walk through the woods to the lake shore. Directions from the South: The preserves are approximately 23 miles north of Ithaca; 2.6 miles north of County Rt. 138; and 2 miles north of the Thirsty Owl winery. The gravel parking area is on the right side of Rt. 89. Saturday, May 23 8:00 AM Dorothy McIlroy Bird Sanctuary, Summerhill This preserve contains deep hemlock woods, some sunny edges, and a fen. Directions: From Main Street in Groton, turn east on Route 222 (E. Cortland Street). After 2.2 miles, turn left onto Salt Road. Turn left onto Salt Road, then right on Route 90 to Lake Como Rd. Turn left on Lake Como Rd. and continue for about 2 miles until you come to Fire Lane A. Make a right onto lane to find the parking area on the right. Sunday, May 24 8:00 AM Lindsay-Parsons Biodiversity Preserve, West Danby This preserve, perhaps the Land Trust spot most renowned for birds, comprises open fields, a large pond, forests, and various edge habitats. >From Ithaca, take Rt. 13 south to junction with Rt. 34/96. Continue south on 34/96 to hamlet of West Danby. Preserve entrance is on left, ½ mile past Sylvan Drive. Monday, May 25 6:30 AM Goetchius Wetland Preserve, Caroline A short early-morning bird walk along both a grassy field and wetlands. Directions: From Ithaca, take Rt. 79 east approximately 11 miles and turn left on Flat Iron Rd. Continue up the road approx. 0.5 mile to parking area on left. Monday, May 25 8:30 AM Roy H. Park Preserve (south), Dryden Open early successional forest favored by Prairie Warblers, plus a walk into hemlock woods and a shaded gorge. Directions: From Ithaca, take Rt. 13 north to Irish Settlement Rd. Turn right and continue 1.5 miles past Hammond Hill Rd. to the south parking area. The preserve parking area is on the left just past the southern end of Goodband Rd. Saturday, May 30 (Rain date May 31) 8:00 AM Ellis Hollow Nature Preserve, Dryden Join us on the last bird quest at this majestic fern-carpeted forest, home to diverse plant and wildlife species located just minutes from downtown Ithaca. Directions: From Ithaca, follow Ellis Hollow Road 2.5 miles past East Hill Shopping Plaza. Turn left on Genung Road, then right on Ellis Hollow Creek Road. Preserve entrance is located 0.2 miles past intersection, on left side of road. --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. http://www.avast.com -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
