Hi All, Water levels are low at the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge right now due to lack of rain. Some impoundments (e.g., Knox-Marsellus and Puddler Marshes) may dry up before the shorebird migration is over because of the dry conditions. We are currently pumping water into the Visitor Center Wetland to maintain shorebird habitat there. Within the next few weeks, we will be disking the Lesser Yellowlegs Unit (aka, Larue's Lagoon) and then shallowly flooding it to provide additional shorebird habitat. The vegetative response to the drawdown in Tschache Pool was phenomenal, and when the rains come the impoundment will flood and provide excellent waterbird habitat.
The Sandhill Crane Unit (the marsh at the end of Van Dyne Spoor Road) is still holding a good amount of water for waterbirds and other wildlife. Unfortunately, the invasive plant, common frogbit, was recently found in this marsh. We will be spending several hours pulling frogbit from canoes Tuesday morning. This is a great way to get into the marsh, and all are welcome. Call the refuge office if you'd like to sign up. Feel free to stop by or give me a call if you have any questions about habitat management at the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge. Our website, http://www.fws.gov/r5mnwr/, and our Friends website, http://www.friendsofmontezuma.org/, are also good sources of information. Good Birding, Linda Chorba Ziemba Wildlife Biologist Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge 3395 Routes 5/20 East Seneca Falls, NY 13148 Phone: 315-568-5987 ext. 225 Fax: 315-568-8835 -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
