USABirdSupply.com Wild Bird Supplies

By Christine A. Smyczynski

This nature center, located outside of Elmira, has over ten miles of trails on two properties. The Green Meadows and Frenchman’s Bluff area, which is on-site to the nature center, has seven different hiking trails that range in distance from less than ½ mile to almost two miles in length. The Personius Woods property, on West Hill Road, has five hiking trails. All of the trails are open 365, sunrise to sunset. Taking a hike at Tanglewood is the perfect way to see birds and other creatures. During the winter months, snowshoe rentals are available.

Some of the birds found here include broad winged hawks and owls. They also have two resident birds, which were injured and can’t survive in the wild; Sophie, a Great Horned Owl, and Lucy, a Barred Owl.

Inside the center’s museum, they have a number of reptiles and amphibians who make their home here, including Iggy, an iguana and Bernice, an African Spurred Tortoise. Other turtles include Eastern Box turtle, Snapping Turtle, Red-eared Slider, Russian Tortoise, and Wood Turtle. Snakes include Ball Python, King Snake, Timber Rattle Snake, and Milk Snake. You can also find salamanders outside on the grounds.

Upcoming events include the bi-annual Bag the Blues fundraiser on April 30th. They offer a “Fun with Nature” event on the first and third Saturday of the month. There are programs for school and Scout groups and the facility can be rented for birthday parties.

Tanglewood Nature Center, 443 Coleman Avenue, Elmira 607-732-6060 www.tanglewoodnaturecenter.com Museum open May-Oct. Tues.-Sat 8:30am-4:30pm, Nov.-April Tues.-Sat 9am-4pm. Trails are open daily, sunrise to sunset. Free admission.

By Christine A. Smyczynski

When I was surfing the internet a few weeks ago I discovered an interesting and informative blog about birds and wildlife on the Democrat & Chronicle website. “The Word on Birds and Other Wild Things,” has been written by Bob Marcotte since 2007. Marcotte, an assistant presentation editor at the newspaper, also writes a weekly local history column.

An avid birder, Marcotte, writes about birds for a number of publications and is the author of the book, Birds of the Genesee. He is in the process of compiling profiles of the over 400 species of birds spotted in the Rochester region.

The blog is interactive; readers are encouraged to submit questions, comments, and photos. And speaking of photos, the over 700 photos on the site, many submitted by readers, are absolutely stunning.

Some recent topics featured in the Word on Birds include articles about cardinals, long tailed ducks, and scaup, which are diving ducks. Again, the photos are fabulous.

By Christine A. Smyczynski

Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge is located at the north end of Cayuga Lake in Seneca Falls, about a 90 minute drive from Buffalo. The 7,000 acre refuge was established in 1938 to restore the area’s marshes, which had been greatly reduced with canal construction in the 1800’s. The refuge is a habitat for migrating birds and other wildlife. Over 315 species of birds have been identified here.

Some of the birds found here include ducks, Canadian geese, snow geese, peregrine falcons, great blue herons, pelicans, loons, and even bald eagles. In fact, the bald eagles remain here year-round, since the Cayuga-Seneca Barge Canal, which runs along the refuge’s eastern border, doesn’t freeze in winter.

A designated National Natural Landmark, Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge is located on the Atlantic Flyway, so you will see thousands of birds here during the spring and fall migrations. Peak migration is in mid-April and early October. The best time to observe birds and other wildlife is in the early morning or late afternoon.
The visitor’s center (Open April 1-Dec. 1) has displays of local wildlife, including a “touch table,” that allows kids to handle items like turtle shells and animal skins. There is an observation deck on top of the visitor’s center. For an even better view, there is an observation tower a short walk away.

If you have the time, take the 3.5 mile one-way self-guided wildlife auto tour along the main pool at the nature center. Set your radio to 1610 AM for more information. There are designated places to stop and get out of your car for a better look. This road actually runs alongside the New York State Thruway at one point, so it can be a bit distracting with cars whizzing by at 70 MPH in the opposite direction.

Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, 3395 Rt. 5 & 20, Seneca Falls, NY 315-568-5987

By Christine A. Smyczynski

Mason Bees have gained popularity in recent years, as they are great pollinators of home gardens and orchards. The bees hibernate from fall to spring, and then begin breeding during spring to mid-summer. The female sets up her nest in wood. USA Bird Supply carries live Mason Bees, as well as a large selection of supplies and accessories to start your own colony.

If you want to start this fascinating hobby, the first order of business is to read The Orchard Mason Bee Book, by Brian L. Griffin ($16.99), which has all the information a newbie Mason Bee keeper needs. The 125 page book, in its second edition, has more illustrations than the previous editions.

The next thing you’ll want is bees. While you could go out and capture them yourself, as they are found in many areas, it’s easier for new beekeepers to buy their first set of bees. USA Bird Supply sells live Mason Bees. They come in two canisters of 10 bees each for $25.58. They are shipped in early spring and care instructions are included.

Of course you’ll need a place for the bees to nest. USA Bird Supply has a variety of nesting materials. Beediverse makes a Mason Bee starter cottage ($13.69), which has twenty 6” nesting tubes. Beediverse also makes a solid wood Mason Bee Lodge ($23.59), which has 30 tunnels, with room for 30 females and 180 eggs. Coveside also makes a Solitary Bee House ($18.99).

Knox Cellars Original Mason Bee Nester 74 ($26.99) has everything you’ll need to start a colony. Each nester has 74 tubes lined with replaceable liners. There are many similar supplies available on the USA Bird Supply website.

By Christine A. Smyczynski

While there is still snow on the ground, it’s not too early to start thinking about decorating your yard and garden for spring. Hopefully warm weather is just around the corner. USA Bird Supply has some new arrivals on their newly designed website that will make you think springtime.

Evergreen has garden stones that would make a lovely addition to any garden. In particular, the Evergreen Tiding Stone- My Garden Bird ($17.49) is a unique resin stone with a glow in the dark glass bird. Evergreen also makes a glow in the dark dragonfly ($17.49) to keep your garden open 24/7. If you like ladybugs, you’ll like Evergreen’s Ladybug Welcome Garden Stone ($17.49), which also comes in a butterfly design.

Another new item to decorate your garden is a copper standing squirrel made by Ancient Graffiti ($21.29). Just think of the confused looks on the faces of your resident squirrels when they see this guy! Ancient Graffiti also makes a copper dragonfly ornament. At only $7.69 each, you can afford to get several to add some whimsy to your yard.

To view images of these items, plus the complete collection of garden décor sold at USA Bird Supply, visit their website, www.usabirdsupply.com.

By Christine A. Smyczynski

Butterflies and birds are a natural combination in nature, so it makes perfect sense that they reside together at the Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden at the Museum of Play in Rochester, NY. The butterfly garden opened several years ago, after the museum, previously known as the Strong Museum, underwent a multi-million dollar expansion. The butterfly garden is a great place to enjoy the beauty of a tropical rainforest while appreciating a variety of exotic butterflies.

Now, in addition to the nearly 800 butterflies, visitor’s can enjoy tropical birds and other creatures. New avian residents include Socrates, a large-billed aracari, a member of the toucan family, who stands 10” tall with a 5” beak.

There are also six free-flying hummingbirds, who were transported to Rochester from Arizona in specially created fabric-lined shipping boxes equipped with spill-proof feeders and battery powered lights. You can also see four honeycreepers and tiny Chinese button quail flying about the garden.

Other garden animals include turtles, tortoises, and goldfish. Entry to the butterfly garden is by timed admission ticket only. A separate fee ($2 members and $4 non-members.) is charged to enter the butterfly garden in addition to the general admission to the museum.

Although the museum is thought of as a children’s museum because of its many hands-on exhibits, there are also many exhibits of interest to adults, such as the extensive antique toy, doll, and household item collection of the museum’s founder, the late Margaret Woodbury Strong, and the National Toy Hall of Fame. You don’t have to be a kid to enjoy the Museum of Play!

Museum of Play, 1 Manhattan Square, Rochester, NY, 585-262-2700, www.museumofplay.org The Museum is open Monday-Thursday 10am-5pm, Friday and Saturday 10am-8pm, and Sunday 12-5pm. General admission is $12/adults, $11/seniors, $10/children 2-15, children under 2 free.

By Christine A. Smyczynski

February was National Bird Feeding Month, it’s only natural that I should feature the National Bird Feeding Society. Founded in 1989, the National Bird Feeding Society is a resource for people who feed wild birds. Its mission is to put the backyard birder in contact with educational resources and research that will enhance their backyard bird feeding experience.

Anyone who is interested in feeding wild birds can join as a member, which is only $15 a year. Members receive via e-mail a bi-monthly newsletter, The Backyard Bird Feeder, which is filled with a variety of ideas and suggestions on feeding birds.

Members who are skilled at photography may want to post photos and videos of the birds they see in their yards, so that other members can enjoy and appreciate those birds. Members can interact with each other via the website though the Backyard Bird Chat.

Members of the National Bird Feeding Society can also participate in scientific research projects related to wild bird feeding. For more information about the National Bird Feeding Society, visit their website www.birdfeeding.org The website has a lot of information, including how to choose the right seeds and feeders for the birds you want to attract, feeding tips, backyard bird identification information, and a photo gallery of birds which have been uploaded by members.