For most birds in the Finger Lakes region, blustery winter weather and heavy snow showers signal that its time to pack up and head south for sunnier climes (not unlike some of the area's human residents).
But not all of our winged friends have made the southern sojourn. Plenty of birds have stuck around for the season and have been joined by some neighbors to the north.
So if you're a bird watcher, or you're just looking for something different to do, there are plenty of birds to check out. They might not be building snowmen or making snow angels, but they're enjoying the winter weather all the same.
Cayuga County offers plenty of birdwatching locales in all parts, from Lake Ontario in the north to Cayuga and Skaneateles lakes in the south. So grab your binoculars (preferably 7x or 8x magnification power) and see what you can spot.
Jim D'Angelo, director of Sterling Nature Center, says there's a wide variety of avian winter residents to scope out throughout the park's property and at the nature center's feeders. Black-capped chickadees, gold finches and tree sparrows regularly visit the feeders, which D'Angelo says is a perfect place to view them.
"You don't even have to go outside if you don't want to," he said.
If you head out onto the wooded trails, which are open all year, you are apt to find a wider variety of winter residents. Cedar waxwings, several different types of woodpeckers and other more common birds can be found in the woods.
"There are different birds in different habitats, but it's best just to wander around through the park," D'Angelo said.
If it's a nice day with plenty of sun, the birds will tend to be more active and easier to spot. But generally during the winter, the birds' metabolism isn't as high as in the summer, thus making them more dormant.
"A lot depends on weather with any wildlife," D'Angelo said. "The birds are very active when it's warm. But when it's windy and cold, they're less active and more concerned about conserving energy. "
D'Angelo says during the harsher days, the birds tend to stay in sheltered areas trying to stay warm. But they still hit the feeders, the easiest way for birds to find food during the winter.
The nature center has five feeders out for the winter birds that are filled with suet and black oil sunflower seeds. D'Angelo says this combination is preferred by most birds and tends to only attract birds. Some people also fill their feeders with cracked corn and millet, but these tend to draw other animals hungry for a bite during the winter.
If you're truly an intrepid birdwatcher, a trip to Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge could be fruitful, depending on the weather. Since most of the refuge is wetlands, the chances of seeing waterfowl in our most recent spat of bitter weather is unlikely, says Tracy Gingrich, a biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
"The waterfowl are looking for open water. They're going to go to Cayuga and Seneca Lakes, some of the bigger bodies of water that haven't frozen over," he said.
But there are plenty of winter residents, including chickadees and cardinals, that can be observed in the wooded areas of the refuge. Because the nature drive is closed during the winter, birdwatchers will need to throw on the cross-country skis or snowshoes in order to check out the birds.
"People do come out to ski and snowshoe on the drive and the nature trails. But the visitors are definitely fewer in number. Access is an issue," Gingrich said.
While the refuge doesn't have an active feeder program like Sterling Nature Center, there are a few feeder birds in the wooded areas. Gingrich says it's hit and miss with many of those birds, though if there is significant thaw, the waterfowl do return to the refuge.
As of early February, the ice on some parts of the wetlands was eight to 10 inches thick. If there is an extended thaw, there is a chance to see many of the year-round waterfowl, like Canada geese, great blue herons, mallard and American black ducks and herring and ring-billed gulls.
If you're lucky, you can spot a member of one of the two groups of bald eagles that reside in the refuge year-round. Gingrich rates the chances of seeing the elusive eagles at less than 50 percent during the winter, but they are there.
You're more likely to see birds that fly in for the "finch winter," like evening grosbeaks, red crossbills and common redpolls. These birds in the Fringillidae family normally live in the boreal forests of Canada in the circumpolar band just south of the Arctic Circle. They move south for the winter when they fail to find normal foods up north and are not true migrants.
"Some birds won't migrate very far," Gingrich said. "They just go where their needs are met."
Staff writer Lauren Ober can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 245 or lauren.ober@lee.net
So if you're a bird watcher, or you're just looking for something different to do, there are plenty of birds to check out. They might not be building snowmen or making snow angels, but they're enjoying the winter weather all the same.
Cayuga County offers plenty of birdwatching locales in all parts, from Lake Ontario in the north to Cayuga and Skaneateles lakes in the south. So grab your binoculars (preferably 7x or 8x magnification power) and see what you can spot.
Jim D'Angelo, director of Sterling Nature Center, says there's a wide variety of avian winter residents to scope out throughout the park's property and at the nature center's feeders. Black-capped chickadees, gold finches and tree sparrows regularly visit the feeders, which D'Angelo says is a perfect place to view them.
"You don't even have to go outside if you don't want to," he said.
If you head out onto the wooded trails, which are open all year, you are apt to find a wider variety of winter residents. Cedar waxwings, several different types of woodpeckers and other more common birds can be found in the woods.
"There are different birds in different habitats, but it's best just to wander around through the park," D'Angelo said.
If it's a nice day with plenty of sun, the birds will tend to be more active and easier to spot. But generally during the winter, the birds' metabolism isn't as high as in the summer, thus making them more dormant.
"A lot depends on weather with any wildlife," D'Angelo said. "The birds are very active when it's warm. But when it's windy and cold, they're less active and more concerned about conserving energy. "
D'Angelo says during the harsher days, the birds tend to stay in sheltered areas trying to stay warm. But they still hit the feeders, the easiest way for birds to find food during the winter.
The nature center has five feeders out for the winter birds that are filled with suet and black oil sunflower seeds. D'Angelo says this combination is preferred by most birds and tends to only attract birds. Some people also fill their feeders with cracked corn and millet, but these tend to draw other animals hungry for a bite during the winter.
If you're truly an intrepid birdwatcher, a trip to Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge could be fruitful, depending on the weather. Since most of the refuge is wetlands, the chances of seeing waterfowl in our most recent spat of bitter weather is unlikely, says Tracy Gingrich, a biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
"The waterfowl are looking for open water. They're going to go to Cayuga and Seneca Lakes, some of the bigger bodies of water that haven't frozen over," he said.
But there are plenty of winter residents, including chickadees and cardinals, that can be observed in the wooded areas of the refuge. Because the nature drive is closed during the winter, birdwatchers will need to throw on the cross-country skis or snowshoes in order to check out the birds.
"People do come out to ski and snowshoe on the drive and the nature trails. But the visitors are definitely fewer in number. Access is an issue," Gingrich said.
While the refuge doesn't have an active feeder program like Sterling Nature Center, there are a few feeder birds in the wooded areas. Gingrich says it's hit and miss with many of those birds, though if there is significant thaw, the waterfowl do return to the refuge.
As of early February, the ice on some parts of the wetlands was eight to 10 inches thick. If there is an extended thaw, there is a chance to see many of the year-round waterfowl, like Canada geese, great blue herons, mallard and American black ducks and herring and ring-billed gulls.
If you're lucky, you can spot a member of one of the two groups of bald eagles that reside in the refuge year-round. Gingrich rates the chances of seeing the elusive eagles at less than 50 percent during the winter, but they are there.
You're more likely to see birds that fly in for the "finch winter," like evening grosbeaks, red crossbills and common redpolls. These birds in the Fringillidae family normally live in the boreal forests of Canada in the circumpolar band just south of the Arctic Circle. They move south for the winter when they fail to find normal foods up north and are not true migrants.
"Some birds won't migrate very far," Gingrich said. "They just go where their needs are met."
Staff writer Lauren Ober can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 245 or lauren.ober@lee.net
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