SAVANNAH, N.Y. This past weeks snow and frigid temperatures put a crimp on the bird watching scene at the Montezuma Wildlife Refuge.

Normally this time of year, the refuge is teeming with large numbers of migrating waterfowl including ring-necked ducks, redheads, scaups, canvasbacks, and a full array of dabbling ducks such as wigeons and gadwalls.

But then the cold snap hit.

Currently, the refuges shallow marshes are frozen over, which prompted many of the ducks to leave for warmer climes. The few ducks sticking around are taking advantage of the open water in the adjacent Cayuga-Seneca Canal and Cayuga Lake, which is just south of the refuge, according to Linda Ziemba, wildlife biologist at the refuge.

If we have a thaw, theres a good chance the numbers of ducks at the refuge will go up again, she said.

Visitors to the refuge, however, can still see bald eagles, which hang around all winter -- plus other raptors.

The emergent marsh wetlands with overhanging mature trees within and adjacent to the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge provide a home for 12 pairs of nesting bald eagles, up from nine in 2018, Ziemba said. In both 2018 and 2019, eagles at the refuge successfully fledged 15 young.

We are thankful to the following dedicated volunteers - Jackie Bakker, Rick Greene, Linda Benedict, and Pete Saracino, who monitored eagle nests this year and provided information on their progress to refuge staff and visitors as well as the NYSDEC.

Thursday, a visitor to the refuge spotted a golden eagle along the refuges Wildlife Drive, Ziemba added. Visitors can also see significant numbers of northern harrier, she added.

One species of bird sandhill cranes -- are still at the refuge in appreciable numbers. A volunteer spotted 70 the other day, Ziemba said.

With the frozen marshes, she said, there are lots of visible muskrat houses, which are being monitored by the bald eagles for a meal.

Its also a good time to look for mink running across Wildlife Drive or along the side of a marsh, she said.

And after a fresh snow, its a good time to come out and look for tracks.

Wildlife Drive, which runs along the main marsh at the refuge, will be closed to visitors after Nov. 30. It will reopen April 1.

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Wintry weather puts crimp on bird watching at Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge - NewYorkUpstate.com