Category: Coots

Montezuma Waterfowl Refuge?

  Unfortunately, current practices would indicate that this is an appropriate name change for the (former?) Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge.  For the past three years each of its marsh pools have been sequentially groomed to promote a plant-based ecosystem to encourage the waterfowl population — ducks, geese, and swans, but primarily ducks.  This strategy, however, has decimated the fish habitat upon which water waders … Read More Montezuma Waterfowl Refuge?

West Shore Trail

West Shore Trail is in the northern part of the Montezuma Wetland Complex.  It’s rather isolated; nobody seems to go there much except me.  That’s too bad because now that the simulated drought is over, the water levels at West Shore have risen even higher than those at the main pool in Seneca Falls, and the resident wildlife is even more varied here than … Read More West Shore Trail

Babies!

Babies!  Just hearing the word prompts a smile. . .remember the debut of Baby Yoda? Springtime in western New York means that there will be lots of babies born in the wild. . . little balls of fluff that elicit oohs and ahhs from each observer.  Some of them eventually poke their tiny heads above the nest rim, waiting for a treat; others learn … Read More Babies!

They’ve Got Bette Davis Eyes

Well, not exactly Bette Davis.  Or Greta Garbo, either.     But they do have eyes that are expressive, bright, and sparkly.

When Is A Duck Not A Duck?

When it’s a rail.  And if it’s black (mostly) with ugly striped feet, it’s a coot. Right now, in the midst of the fall migration, coots are plentiful here in Western New York.  In fact, they are plentiful just about anywhere there is fresh water — the experts call that “cosmopolitan distribution.”  I call it ubiquitous.   In fact, coots are so ubiquitous that … Read More When Is A Duck Not A Duck?

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