Laura, I live near Binghamton and also would like someone knowledgeable about Jamaica Bay to provide some directions on where to go, etc. I made a trip to Jamaica Bay this summer but, ahem, basically got lost. For the Ithaca area, go to Montezuma Refuge (N. end of Cayuga Lake). Stop at the visitor's center for a map around the many pools and to look at the sighting logbook before you go out. Note the "rare birds report" today on this egroup for recent sightings there. If you act responsibly the staff may even tell you the locations of the bald eagle nests. :-) The road down the west side of the lake is part of the Finger Lakes Wine Trail and I confess that stopping at several of them after birding Montezuma is a favorite thing to do. Finally, Cornell U (SE corner of the lake) is home to the Ornithology Lab on Sapsucker Woods Rd. Sadly the lab has little to offer visitors except a few displays (including an amazing case of hummingbirds from around the world). However, there are nice trails on the grounds and a Wild Birds Unlimited store inside. It would be a good day spent (mostly) birding. -jeff --------- Office: +1(607)751-6899 | Mobile: +1(607)725-4493
_____ From: bounce-4162316-9307...@list.cornell.edu [mailto:bounce-4162316-9307...@list.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of Laura Dornan Sent: Tuesday, August 11, 2009 12:15 PM To: NYSbirds-L@cornell.edu Subject: [nysbirds-l] NY visitor needs birding suggestions My husband & I will be taking a Road Trip from Ohio to NH next week to visit friends for a couple of days & on our return we would like to do some birding. We are considering going to Jamaica Bay for a day or 2 but will have 2 or 3 more days to bird our way through NY before we need to be in the Buffalo area to visit other friends. Can anyone give us some suggestions for a route to take & areas to visit? We have never been to NY to spend any real time there. Perhaps the Finger Lakes area? We are quite flexible in our plans at this point & are not fully committed to going to Jamaica Bay. I have always wanted to go there & this should be the perfect time of year but if we need more time to visit other places in NY we can change our plans. (Hubby is not really keen on the idea of driving through NYC anyway) Also please keep in mind that we are no longer "in our prime" & able to do strenuous hiking or many hills. Thanks to anyone who can help us with suggestions for places to go. We are really looking forward to seeing more of NY than we have on previous "pass throughs". Laura Dornan Stark County, Ohio -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
