Birding Sites in the Finger Lakes
SENECA COUNTY
Seneca Meadows Wetland Preserve
Coordinates: 42.94192°N 76.82048°W
Map
Habitat: The preserve consists of 450 acres of prairie/meadow with some standing water and rich bottomland woods. There are 7 mi./11.2 km. of trail.
The prairie/meadow was recently farmland and was specifically planted with native and non-native meadow/prairie perennial  plants and grasses. The birds you will be able to see will change as this section of the site matures. There is some standing water and cattail marshes.
The woods is a good example of the typical woods of the Lake Ontario Plain with an understory of native plants, vines, and shrubs. This provides good food and feeding sites for many species of birds.
One of the negatives about this site is that, because it's relatively flat, as plants grow up during the year, it's hard to see the birds in the prairie pools from the trails. There are two overlooks. A good pair of binoculars and perhaps even a spotting scope would help.
Seasons: Spring will allow you to see what's in the pools. Look here for herons, bitterns, puddle ducks, and red-winged blackbirds. In the prairie/meadow, look for ground-nesting sparrows, meadow larks, bobolinks, goldfinches, swallows, and bluebirds. In the woods, look for woodcocks, thrushes, warblers, vireos, blue jays, black-capped chickadees, nuthatches, woodpeckers, rose-breated grosbeaks, orioles, owls, and hawks.
Access: The Education Center is located on State Route 414 in the Town of Seneca Falls in Seneca County. The wetland preserve is located on the next road parallel to and east of State Route 414--Black Brook Road. The preserve is on the west side of the road across from the intersection of King Road. It is well marked with a sign and fairly obvious with a long fence visible from the road.
The education center and the preserve are not currently connected. The drive from one site to the other is approximately 3 mi./4.8 km.
For more information about the education center and the preserve with more photos and a brochure with trail map, click here.
See also: http://senecameadows.com/
Nearby Birding Sites:
Montezuma Audubon Center
Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge
Updated 6 September 2013
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