THIS is why the managers at Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge drain the marshes every spring. Once reduced to mudflats, the lands lie fallow over the summer, producing lush, duck-friendly vegetation. By refilling the marshes in late September/early October, there is enough water and vegetation to attract ducks to the refuge.

Just in time for fall migration.

And New York’s duck-hunting season.

This guy was parked on Wildlife Drive on Sunday, November 9. The Drive remains open to the public until November 30. It is my understanding that public access is why hunting is never allowed on Wildlife Drive. . .but apparently I understand wrong.

This entire dilemma is unnecessary. While drainage does “refresh the marsh,” such refreshment is rarely required, since the weather cycle in this region of NY provides natural drought every 5-7 years, sufficient to sustain the marshes. But even on those rare occasions when nature fails and the water table must be lowered, it needn’t be drained dry. In fact, too-frequent drainage, whether induced or natural, hastens the growth of shrubbery, which in turn hastens the demise of the marsh and creation of meadowlands. (This is what is happening at Knox-Marcellus.)

Clearly this photo (above) proves that the varied explanations MNWR offers for its frequent distortion of the food web consist of “alternate facts” designed to convince us that killing off the resident water dwellers and driving away dependent wildlife dependent each (or nearly each) spring serves some kind of lofty environmental purpose. . .and that hunting is a byproduct of negligible importance.

It doesn’t, except on rare occasions, and it’s not. . .especially if you’re a duck.

According to one MNWR rep I spoke to, this year’s drainage was intended inter alia to control invasive species such as the phragmites grass. . .judging from this photo (above), that proved to be an epic fail. (This sign always makes me LOL — if getting out of our cars creates a “wildlife disturbance,” I’d like to know what MNWR creates with their annual (or nearly annual) destruction of the entire the food web. . .)

Anyway, it’s politics, not financial quid pro quo, that spares us from most of this year’s propaganda. Mike (“the Little”) Johnson’s House shutdown and the bumbling, ineffective, and corrupt government that produced it has protected the wetlands from further harm . . .except, now that the BBB is “law,” the marsh managers are once again controlling the (barely) wetlands. . .<sigh>

Their return won’t stop me, though, from trying to enjoy the little bits of wildlife that survive despite their destructive and disastrous summer of 2025:

Rarely do we find a feral muscovy duck in the wetlands, but I found one foraging disturbance-free at the Sandhill Crane Unit, where water levels are much better than those at Seneca Falls. (Bad photo, taken from a distance my 500 mm lens could not handle.)

Until the hunters arrived, that is. Haven’t seen her since. . . 😦

When I saw these guys up in the Sandhill Crane Unit, where hunting is prohibited (except on adjacent private LAND), I turned my radio up all the way, knowing how easily sound carries over water. They did turn and look. And then I drove up and down the roadway several times, hoping to save a few ducks.

It’s one thing to allow hunting. . .but it’s another to allow hunting after luring wildlife to a refuge. . . with acres of bait. . .

. . .but wildlife aren’t stupid. They know there are safer habitats elsewhere.

Dancing (male) mallard, Sodus Bay.

Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge. They don’t financially partner with Ducks Unlimited, so they don’t worry about artificially increasing their duck population. By not tampering with the natural food web, INWR attracts the full gamut of wildlife, something that apparently conflicts with the MNWR business plan.

Sterling Nature Center, another wildlife-friendly refuge.

Hoping for better days next spring! But until then,

https://www.ducks.org/hunting/waterfowl-hunting-destinations/montezumas-magnificent-muck-ducks