Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge is on Route 20 at the north end of Cayuga Lake and it is one of the genuinely significant natural sites in New York State, which is a sentence that deserves the full credit it implies. Five stars for a refuge that justifies the category completely.
The migratory bird concentration at Montezuma during spring and fall is one of the largest in the northeastern United States. The refuge sits at the convergence of the Atlantic and Mississippi flyways, which means that during peak migration periods — late April through May, and September through October — the variety and volume of waterfowl and shorebirds using the marsh and impoundments is extraordinary. Great blue herons, egrets, sandpipers, ducks in numbers that make individual species identification a sustained project rather than a casual observation.
The visitor experience is accessible for people who don't bring specialized equipment: the main wildlife drive is passable without a high-clearance vehicle and the observation platforms give clear sightlines over the impoundments from a fixed position. Birding by car is a completely valid approach here and the volume of what you'll see in an hour justifies it. Sackett's Table in Seneca Falls is about five miles east when you're done. This is among the best half-days available in the Finger Lakes region.
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The Day's Trail
December 16, 2021
