Date: 10/9/26 8:30 am From: Monica Adelman <monicaladelman...> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Cayuga Bird Club events this weekend and Monday
[image: image.png]
Saturday, October 10October Big Day
All day | No physical location - just get out and bird!
Wherever you are on 10 October, take a few minutes to enjoy birds and share
what you find. Participate from anywhere—even from home! By taking part in
October Big Day you’re also celebrating Global Bird Weekend and World
Migratory Bird Day. Be a part of the global team and help set new records
for October birding.
Family Flock Meetup
9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. | Black Diamond Trail
This week: Saturday, October 10 from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Black
Diamond Trail. Meet in the parking lot of the Children’s Garden (121 Turtle
Way, Ithaca). We will be walking/strolling on a packed-stone pathway.
Monica Adelman is hosting this weekly Saturday morning meetup. This meetup
is a group geared toward parents and caregivers with young children
(newborn to preschool) who enjoy birding and want to bring their little
ones along. No prior birding experience is required. Meetups take place in
stroller-friendly locations with minimal bodies of water, no cars,
roadsides, or gorges. Adults should bring binoculars, and kids should bring
their energy! The meetups are crowd-sourced on where to meet next week.
Beginner Bird Walk (with Diane Morton and Ken Kemphues)
8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. | Lab of Ornithology
Join us every Saturday and Sunday morning at 8:30am for a walk around
Sapsucker Woods looking and listening for birds. Walks last about 1½-2
hours and are targeted for beginners, though all levels are welcome. Meet
by the Lab of Ornithology visitor center entrance. No registration
necessary. Binoculars are available for loan, though you should bring your
own if you have them. The Visitor Center does not open until 10am. There is
a porta-potty in the parking lot.
Sunday, October 11Bird Banding at Lighthouse Point Woods
7:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. | Lighthouse Point
The Finger Lakes Bird Observatory, led by Max "Hummingbird" Baber, will be
banding birds at Lighthouse Point for the Fall migration season. Members of
the public are invited to observe our beautiful birds up close, to learn
about the bird banding process, and to learn about our migrating birds in
general.
Banding sessions are scheduled for Sundays, September 27 through November
1. Sessions last for 6 hours from sunrise. Stop by anytime starting from
the first net check, 30 minutes after sunrise. Sessions may be shortened or
cancelled from rain, heavy wind, or other conditions that may jeopardize
the safety of the birds.
Directions to Lighthouse Point: park at Newman Municipal Golf Course, walk
0.4 miles north along the inlet to the banding station.
Beginner Bird Walk
8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. | Lab of Ornithology
Join us every Saturday and Sunday morning at 8:30am for a walk around
Sapsucker Woods looking and listening for birds. Walks last about 1½-2
hours and are targeted for beginners, though all levels are welcome. Meet
by the Lab of Ornithology visitor center entrance. No registration
necessary. Binoculars are available for loan, though you should bring your
own if you have them. The Visitor Center does not open until 10am. There is
a porta-potty in the parking lot.
Monday, October 12 (Indigenous Peoples’ Day)Habitat Restoration
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Lighthouse Point
We will be concentrating on putting in fences and clearing the plants from
the areas where the fences will be going. If you really want to pull
privet, you can do that too. Come early (8:00 a.m.) for birding. We will
provide some snacks. May be cancelled if the weather looks too rainy, check
the calendar for the latest updates.
Cayuga Bird Club Meeting
7:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. | Lab of Ornithology
This meeting is free and open to the public. Doors open at 6:45 p.m. for
social time before the reading of the basin bird list at 7:20 p.m. Club
business begins at 7:30 p.m., followed by the speaker's presentation
starting around 8:00 p.m. and ending by 9:00 p.m.
Speaker: Lorna Gibson, PhD, Material Scientist and avid birder; author of
the newly released “Birds Up Close- An Engineer Explores Their Hidden
Wonders.”
Date: 10/8/26 5:23 pm From: Shelley Page <shelleypage.imagine...> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Oct 8 Thursday Birding Meetup Recap and Next Week's Plans
What a beautiful October birding morning for our Thursday Birding Meetup at the meadows and gardens on Freese Road! We started our morning with a special treat--Tim Gallagher brought along Kodak Brownie, a young peregrine falcon that he is fostering and training to be eventually returned to the wild. The nineteen of us witnessed Tim's lifelong falconry expertise and passion as the young falcon circled several times around the meadow before returning to Tim's arm and its food reward. We were enchanted by Kodak Brownie and impressed with Tim's ease in handling this raptor. Just wow! Thanks, Tim, for offering us this close up view! Oh, and, there were other birds, too! We saw 20 species including sparrows (white throats, song, field and savannah), eastern meadowlarks, goldfinches galore, red-winged blackbirds, bluebirds, blue jays and a smattering of others. What a thrill to once again hear the clear strong song of the white throats, and the surprise of meadowlark musings! We also enjoyed the late season flowers and garden remnants. Some of us gathered at Adam's Corners Cafe for brunch, and a few traipsed off to Cornell in search of a Nelson's sparrow. All in all, a wonderful birding morning!
Want to join us next week? We'll bird at the Lansing Center Trail on Thursday Oct 15 at 7:30 am, in search of more fall sparrows! From Ithaca: Travel north on Route 34 (East Lakeshore Dr). Turn right at the light, then the parking lot will be soon on your left. We warmly welcome all birders to join us!
Shelley Page *she/they/ki*
313-550-1437 261 Coddington Road Apt. B Ithaca, New York 14850
https://uuma.zoom.us/j/2065380867 "All that you touch you Change. All that you Change changes you. The only lasting truth is Change. God is Change." Octavia Butler, The Parable of the Sower
Date: 10/8/26 3:42 pm From: Colleen Richards <clr82...> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Cayuga Bird Club October 2026 meeting
Please come to the Cayuga Bird Club's October meeting on Monday, Oct. 12 at 7:30 pm.Held on the second Monday of each month, September through June, meetings are free and open to the public. In-person meetings are held September through May at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 159 Sapsucker Woods Road. Doors open at 6:45pm for social time before the reading of the basin bird list at 7:20. Club business begins at 7:30pm, followed by the speaker's presentation starting around 8:00pm and ending by 9:00pm. Please note that we will be holding our election of Club officers and voting on this year's budget.
Come hear our speaker Lorna Gibson, PhD, Material Scientist and avid birder, in her presentation: "Birds Up Close - A renowned engineer reveals the marvel of how birds work" Have you ever wondered how birds work? Lorna Gibson’s new book, Birds Up Close: An Engineer Explores Their Hidden Wonders, draws on her experience as a professor of engineering at MIT and as a lifelong birder, to describe how birds work from an engineering perspective. Feathers, bones, bills, eggs, flight: all come in for scrutiny, sometimes at the microscopic scale, sometimes at a more macroscopic scale. Join Lorna as she shares highlights from the book on how microscopic structures in bird bills and tongues allow woodpeckers to capture insects deep within the holes they drill, hummingbirds to collect nectar from flowers, sandpipers to sense prey in wet sand, and phalaropes to draw droplets of plankton-containing water into their bills (no lips, can’t suck).” About the Speaker: Lorna Gibson is the Matoula S. Salapatas Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at MIT and a MacVicar Faculty Fellow, MIT’s top award for undergraduate teaching. She is a member of the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Audubon Society. She has always loved nature and getting outside to walk, bicycle and bird. Before the meeting members may join us in hosting Lorna at dinner at the Sumo Restaurant at 5:30. Please rsvp re dinner to <clr82...> by noon Monday for reservation purposes. Lorna will also be signing copies of her book (some copies available at Wild Birds Unlimited) at the Lab at 6:45. Hope to see you there.Colleen RichardsCorresponding SecretaryCayuga Bird Club
Date: 10/7/26 6:49 am From: Monica Adelman <monicaladelman...> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Become a member of the Cayuga Bird Club - special offer expires Monday 10/12
Become a member of the Cayuga Bird Club today!
Thanks to the generosity of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, this fall the
Cayuga Bird Club is able to offer 1 free Bird Academy course to those who
join or renew their CBC membership by October 12, 2026 (also the night of
our second club meeting at the Lab).
Cayuga Bird Club annual dues are $15 per household or $10 for students.
Your dues support the club’s activities, including our monthly meetings
with invited speakers, club projects, and more. Additional donations are
welcome.
Date: 10/5/26 6:42 am From: Monica Adelman <monicaladelman...> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Family Flock Meetup Report & Location for next week
Family Flock Meetup with the Cayuga Bird Club: Trip Report
Wow - what a wonderful first meetup we had on this sunny Saturday morning. 15 adults and 9 kiddos ranging from 3 months to 5 years joined in positively identifying a total of 13 species at Hog Hole. Some highlights included a Bald Eagle, Double-crested Cormorants, a Great Black-Backed Gull, and a loud flock of European Starlings. We heard a lot of American Goldfinches but didn't see any. We watched some warblers flitting around on the fall leaves, but were too busy with the wiggling children to take the time to try to identify those birds in their fall plumage. Overall, it was a positive experience and we're looking forward to meeting up next week!
*Saturday, October 10* we will meet at the Children's Garden parking lot and walk up the Black Diamond Trail. This meetup will run from 9:00 a.m. to about 10:30 a.m.
As a reminder, this meetup will be a group geared toward parents and caregivers with young children (newborn to preschool) who enjoy birding and want to bring their little ones along. No prior birding experience is required. Meetups will take place in stroller-friendly locations with minimal bodies of water, no cars, roadsides, or gorges. Adults should bring binoculars, and kids should bring their energy! The meetups will be crowd-sourced on where to meet next week.
Date: 10/4/26 11:17 am From: Tracy McLellan <trcymclellan...> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Habitat restoration at Lighthouse Point Woods in October
We will be having two sessions for habitat restoration at Lighthouse Point Woods in October, on Monday October 12 and Sunday, October 25, both 9am to 12 noon. We will be concentrating on putting in fences and clearing the plants from the areas where the fences will be going. If you really want to pull privet, you can do that too. Come early (8am) for birding. We will provide some snacks. We will send notification of cancellation if the weather looks too rainy. Hope to see you there. Tracy
Date: 10/2/26 3:42 pm From: Barbara B. Eden <beb1...> Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] Gulls at Cayuga Mall
And I assume. they were coming up from Stewart Park unless someone else has other insights
Sent from my little gadget
________________________________
From: Barbara B. Eden <beb1...>
Sent: Friday, 02 October 2026 18:39:30
To: Cayuga Bird List <cayugabirds-l...>
Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Gulls at Cayuga Mall
The early morning ring billed gulls have returned to hang out at the parking lot at Cayuga Mall. This morning there were hundreds of them in the parking lot and on the roof of Aldi's And the veterans clinic. fascinating behavior, especially since when I left the gym an hour and a half later, they were all gone. I assume they were heading up to the compost piles at Cornell.
I had seen this behavior last year and like clockwork they are back
A very enjoyable start to my day
Best,
Barbara Eden
Date: 10/2/26 3:40 pm From: Barbara B. Eden <beb1...> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Gulls at Cayuga Mall
The early morning ring billed gulls have returned to hang out at the parking lot at Cayuga Mall. This morning there were hundreds of them in the parking lot and on the roof of Aldi's And the veterans clinic. fascinating behavior, especially since when I left the gym an hour and a half later, they were all gone. I assume they were heading up to the compost piles at Cornell.
I had seen this behavior last year and like clockwork they are back
A very enjoyable start to my day
Best,
Barbara Eden
Date: 10/1/26 3:22 pm From: Tim Gallagher <twg3...> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] October 1 Thursday Birding Meetup Recap and Next Week's Plans
Today we met at Duemling Meadows near the Cornell Lab of Ornithology for our Thursday Morning Birding Meetup. We’d gone there a few weeks ago in mid-August and seen some interesting bird action, including a Merlin that was flying around with some Kestrels. We had high hopes for this morning, but the weather didn’t cooperate. Eleven hardy souls showed up anyway, despite the rain and the scarcity of birds, which were obviously intelligent enough to take shelter in the thick foliage around us. But we still had a great time, and a few birds did peek out to see what we were about—including the White-throated Sparrow that Jane Bain managed to photograph, which you can see in my Cayuga Bird Club Facebook post.
Want to join us next week? We'll be checking out fall sparrows at Freese Road Community Gardens and nearby locations at 7:30 am. From Ithaca: Take Route 13 North, turn right on Sapsucker Woods Road. Turn left on Hanshaw Road and then right on Freese Road. Slightly less than a half mile, look for a dirt driveway on the left leading to the parking area in the gardens.
Date: 10/1/26 11:30 am From: Monica Adelman <monicaladelman...> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Cayuga Bird Club Weekend Activities
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Saturday, October 3Fall Gardening for Bird Habitat with Steve Kress (full!)
8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. | Snyder Hill
Join Steve Kress for a special visit to Snyder Hill where Steve and Elissa
have created a haven for birds and other pollinators. Fall is an ideal
season for planting native trees and shrubs, so come and see the
possibilities for creating better bird habitat in grasslands, forests, and
ponds. Limit: 15 people with priority given to Cayuga Bird Club members.
Register here: https://forms.gle/6XnHkxyhtJwWJek67
THIS TOUR IS FULL. YOU CAN SIGN UP AT THE LINK TO JOIN THE WAITLIST.
Family Flock Meetup (*new!)
9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. | Hog Hole
Monica Adelman will be hosting a new weekly Saturday morning meetup
starting this weekend. After seeing how many families with young children
came out to Migration Celebration, she saw there was a gap in the Club's
programming for folks in this demographic. This meetup will be a group
geared toward parents and caregivers with young children (newborn to
preschool) who enjoy birding and want to bring their little ones along. No
prior birding experience is required. Meetups will take place in
stroller-friendly locations with minimal bodies of water, no cars,
roadsides, or gorges. Adults should bring binoculars, and kids should bring
their energy! The meetups will be crowd-sourced on where to meet next week.
Our very first meetup will be Saturday, October 3 from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
at Hog Hole (Allan H. Treman State Marine Park). Meet towards the northwest
corner of the parking lot (near the dog park and the marina). We will be
walking/strolling on a paved and packed-stone pathway, which is part of the
NYS Birding Trail. It looks like nice weather for Saturday!
Beginner Bird Walk
8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. | Lab of Ornithology
Join us every Saturday and Sunday morning at 8:30am for a walk around
Sapsucker Woods looking and listening for birds. Walks last about 1½-2
hours and are targeted for beginners, though all levels are welcome. Meet
by the Lab of Ornithology visitor center entrance. No registration
necessary. Binoculars are available for loan, though you should bring your
own if you have them. The Visitor Center does not open until 10am. There is
a porta-potty in the parking lot.
Sunday, October 4Field Trip: Where the Birds Are with Stephanie Herrick
8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. | Stewart Park
Meet at Stewart Park east parking area. Where we go from there will be
determined by reviewing our local hot spots to see “where the birds are.”
We’ll start at Stewart Park and car pool from there to find them. Stewart
Park is flat with restrooms and water available. Conditions at other
locations to be shared that morning.
Bird Banding at Lighthouse Point Woods
7:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. | Lighthouse Point
The Finger Lakes Bird Observatory, led by Max "Hummingbird" Baber, will be
banding birds at Lighthouse Point for the Fall migration season. Members of
the public are invited to observe our beautiful birds up close, to learn
about the bird banding process, and to learn about our migrating birds in
general.
Banding sessions are scheduled for Sundays, September 27 through November
1. Sessions last for 6 hours from sunrise. Stop by anytime starting from
the first net check, 30 minutes after sunrise. Sessions may be shortened or
cancelled from rain, heavy wind, or other conditions that may jeopardize
the safety of the birds.
Directions to Lighthouse Point: park at Newman Municipal Golf Course, walk
0.4 miles north along the inlet to the banding station.
Beginner Bird Walk
8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. | Lab of Ornithology
Join us every Saturday and Sunday morning at 8:30am for a walk around
Sapsucker Woods looking and listening for birds. Walks last about 1½-2
hours and are targeted for beginners, though all levels are welcome. Meet
by the Lab of Ornithology visitor center entrance. No registration
necessary. Binoculars are available for loan, though you should bring your
own if you have them. The Visitor Center does not open until 10am. There is
a porta-potty in the parking lot.
Date: 9/29/26 7:20 am From: Regi Teasley <rltcayuga...> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Mixed flock drops by
Yesterday and today I’ve had a variety of migrants drop by to rest and refuel.
Males: White-throated Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Common Yellowthroat, and females: Yellow Warbler, Robin.
Regi
Cliff Park Rd
Ithaca. West Hill—where the city plans to cut down the trees on Octopus UNA for a 75 unit apt bldg.
___________
Protect what is left, recover what is lost of the fair earth.
William Morris, “Art and the Beauty of the Earth.” 1881
Date: 9/27/26 3:23 pm From: Michael O. Engle <moe1...> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Resending message
________________________________
From: Michael O. Engle <moe1...>
Sent: Sunday, September 27, 2026 4:13 PM
To: CAYUGABIRDS-L <cayugabirds-l...>
Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] Late season hummer
Our hummingbird was still feeding on the salvia blossoms in our yard as of yesterday.
<moe1...>
29 Janivar Drive
Ithaca, NY 14850
From: <CAYUGABIRDS-L...> <CAYUGABIRDS-L...> on behalf of Peter Saracino <petersaracino...>
Date: Sunday, September 27, 2026 at 9:06 AM
To: <eatonbirdingsociety...> <eatonbirdingsociety...>; Cayuga Birds List <CAYUGABIRDS-L...>; Geneseebirds <geneseebirds-googlegroup...>
Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Late season hummer
Just had a hummingbird briefly at a feeder....looked to me like a ruby...
Sar
Date: 9/27/26 6:20 am From: John Gregoire <johnandsuegregoire...> Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] Late season hummer
A few still here, too. Lots of warbler in the trees this morning.
Western edge of the basin
On Sun, Sep 27, 2026 at 9:06 AM Peter Saracino <petersaracino...>
wrote:
> Just had a hummingbird briefly at a feeder....looked to me like a ruby...
> Sar
>
> "To know is not all; it is only half. To love is the other half".
> - John Burroughs
> " The Art Of Seeing Things"
> --
> Cayugabirds-L List Info:
> More information about this list here: http://www.northeastbirding.com > Login to change your subscription settings here: http://LISTS.cornell.edu > Posting Address: <Cayugabirds-L...>
> Archives:
> The Mail Archive: //www.mail-archive.com/<cayugabirds-l...>
> <https:%3Ca%20href=>/maillist.html" class="hft-urls">https:
> //www.mail-archive.com/<cayugabirds-l...>/maillist.html
> Sightings: Please submit your observations to eBird at
> http://www.ebird.org.
> --
>
Date: 9/25/26 9:00 am From: Jody Enck <jodyenck...> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Habitat improvement fun at Lighthouse Point Woods
Jody Enck <jodyenck...>
11:58 AM (0 minutes ago)
to <cuchulain.kelly...>, <jzs29...>, <rab483...>,
<chesterkglenn...>, <mgrinck...>, <earthartsithaca...>,
ads332
Hi All,
Thanks for your continued interest in the Cayuga Bird Club's habitat
restoration effort at Lighthouse Point Woods.
We have a habitat restoration fun day planned for tomorrow, Saturday
September 26 from about 9am to noon down at Lighthouse Point. We will be
removing privet, erecting fencing, and getting ready to plant native trees
and shrubs later in the fall. We also will have roles for folks to fill
that doesn't involve pulling privet or putting up fence (things like data
collection, making maps, taking notes, etc.).
We are collaborating with a Landscape Architecture design class at Cornell
this fall to help design plantings for us that will result in a 4-layered,
forested habitat about 50 years in the future. This "desired future
condition" will be a big improvement over the highly degraded habitat that
exists there now.
We also have one or two folks who are looking for a ride down/back from
west campus on Cornell tomorrow. Let me know if you might have some room.
If you do come out (please give me a heads up email), park at the Newman
Golf course and walk in the access road along the inlet. We will be
working behind the concrete building near the edge of the woods.
thanks
Jody
Jody W. Enck, PhD
Conservation Social Scientist, and
Founder of the Sister Bird Club Network
607-379-5940
Date: 9/24/26 1:04 pm From: Shelley Page <shelleypage.imagine...> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Sept 24 Thursday Birding Meetup Recap and Next Week's Plans
We were surprised to be walking through a light frost at this morning's Thursday Birding Meetup at Durland Preserve. But soon, my heart was singing "We're Walking in a Warbler Wonderland," presaging next season's music, as we hiked along the woodland edge. Indeed, the 15 of us were treated to quite the show of seven different warblers (Tennessee, Nashville, Common Yellowthroat, Hooded, Magnolia, Yellow-Rumped and Black Throated Green!) along with a Ruby Crowned Kinglet, Blue Headed Vireos and Chickadees all busily flitting amidst the sun-warmed yellow-green foliage. Such a gorgeous early fall viewing of our migrating friends! We also hiked out through the hemlock woods where we noticed a huge "chicken of the woods" fungus on our way to the pond boardwalk. Blue jays were creating quite the ruckus and then we noticed a kestrel perched at the top of a snag being harassed by a blue jay. Clearly the jays were not thrilled to have the kestrel in their zone. On our way back to the cars, we paused in the warbler zone and saw more of our lil favorites including two hooded warblers chasing each other. A top notch birding morning, topped off with breakfast and conversation at Brookton's Market. Want to join us next week? Thursday Oct 1 at 7:30 am, we'll meet at Sapsucker Woods to see fall sparrows and warblers in the gorgeous fall flowers at Duemling Meadows. Park at the lot ACROSS the road from the Visitor's Center. Directions from Ithaca: Take Route 13 North toward Dryden, turn right at Sapsucker Woods Road. The parking lot will be on your left. Shelley Page *she/they/ki*
313-550-1437 261 Coddington Road Apt. B Ithaca, New York 14850
https://uuma.zoom.us/j/2065380867 "All that you touch you Change. All that you Change changes you. The only lasting truth is Change. God is Change." Octavia Butler, The Parable of the Sower
[image: image.png]
Saturday, September 26Cornell Raptor Barn Tour (full!)
9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. | Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Meet at Cornell Lab of Ornithology Auditorium for an orientation. Then,
we’ll carpool over to the Cornell Raptor Barn for a behind-the-scenes tour
of the facilities and an introduction to our resident birds of prey. Learn
how non-releasable raptors support education, research, and outreach at
Cornell and throughout the surrounding community, meet the birds up close,
and hear from students about their hands-on experiences caring for the
raptor ambassadors and educating the public to inspire appreciation and
conservation of these remarkable species.
Limited to 30 people, priority given to Cayuga Bird Club members. THIS
FIELD TRIP IS FULL. YOU ARE WELCOME TO SIGN UP TO BE ON THE WAITING LIST.
Beginner Bird Walk with Ken Haas and Tracy McLellan
8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. | Lab of Ornithology
Join us every Saturday and Sunday morning at 8:30am for a walk around
Sapsucker Woods looking and listening for birds. Walks last about 1½-2
hours and are targeted for beginners, though all levels are welcome. Meet
by the Lab of Ornithology visitor center entrance. No registration
necessary. Binoculars are available for loan, though you should bring your
own if you have them. The Visitor Center does not open until 10am. There is
a porta-potty in the parking lot.
Sunday, September 27Field Trip: Fall Sparrows & Warblers with Meena Haribal
and Leigh Strivers
8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. | Cornell Community Gardens on Freese Rd.
Meet at Cornell Community Gardens Parking Lot on Freese Road. We’ll walk
Bluegrass Lane and in the Community Gardens area to find fall sparrows and
migrating warblers. Mostly flat but some unpaved uneven walking surfaces.
No restroom or water nearby.
Bird Banding at Lighthouse Point Woods
7:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. | Lighthouse Point
The Finger Lakes Bird Observatory, led by Max "Hummingbird" Baber, will be
banding birds at Lighthouse Point for the Fall migration season. Members of
the public are invited to observe our beautiful birds up close, to learn
about the bird banding process, and to learn about our migrating birds in
general.
Banding sessions are scheduled for Sundays, September 27 through November
1. Sessions last for 6 hours from sunrise. Stop by anytime starting from
the first net check, 30 minutes after sunrise. Sessions may be shortened or
cancelled from rain, heavy wind, or other conditions that may jeopardize
the safety of the birds.
Directions to Lighthouse Point: park at Newman Municipal Golf Course, walk
0.4 miles north along the inlet to the banding station.
Beginner Bird Walk with Lisa Wood and Maia Ginsburg
8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. | Lab of Ornithology
Join us every Saturday and Sunday morning at 8:30am for a walk around
Sapsucker Woods looking and listening for birds. Walks last about 1½-2
hours and are targeted for beginners, though all levels are welcome. Meet
by the Lab of Ornithology visitor center entrance. No registration
necessary. Binoculars are available for loan, though you should bring your
own if you have them. The Visitor Center does not open until 10am. There is
a porta-potty in the parking lot.
Date: 9/20/26 1:12 pm From: Donna Lee Scott <dls9...> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Flickers
I was just treated to the sight of four northern flickers gathered together on the top of a dead tree festooned with fall red Virginia creeper.
They were doing one of what I call their “funny” calls, as a lone cedar wax wing sat below them & a blue jay zoomed into & out of the tree.
I assumed it was two pairs, but the light is so bad, I couldn’t really see the field marks clearly.
This was at the edge of Kendal’s western edge just north of Abrams Brookside walk.
Donna Scott
Kendal at Ithaca-377
Sent from my iPhone
Date: 9/18/26 5:13 pm From: Shelley Page <shelleypage.imagine...> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Cornell Raptor Barn Tour is FULL
The Cornell Raptor Barn Tour is now FULL and all participants have been notified via email. There is a waiting list and you can sign up at the link on the CBC calendar, if you want to be on it.
Looking forward to this special opportunity, Shelley
Shelley Page *she/they/ki*
313-550-1437 261 Coddington Road Apt. B Ithaca, New York 14850
https://uuma.zoom.us/j/2065380867 "All that you touch you Change. All that you Change changes you. The only lasting truth is Change. God is Change." Octavia Butler, The Parable of the Sower
Date: 9/18/26 8:07 am From: Shelley Page <shelleypage.imagine...> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Sept 17 Thursday Birding Meetup Recap and Next Week's Plans
<https://www.google.com/intl/en/about/products?tab=mh> We saved the best for last at this morning's Thursday Birding Meetup at Fillmore Glen State Park. The misty light drizzle dampened our birding although we did find 17 species. Some birds we saw as fly-bys including blue jays, crows, chickadees, cedar waxwings and a merlin. A dozen robins were hanging out at a playground. We heard some woodpeckers and a brown creeper. Our warbler necking was mainly seeing flitty silhouettes although the 16 of us were finally rewarded with a glimpse of a black-throated green warbler. Our morning was redeemed as we visited the home of William Seigart <https://www.facebook.com/groups/423723264332161/user/508602390/?__cft__[0]=AZghcH79MnC92nq3T0P_fHH4n3oetKnmIa12Oxf_Yd7JMNnI77Z8IVo2prwBLfA3MmV7iRkMH3J7iHYjpIYP99c5rpufGWC4QaO5S0Yh5yeu9YpRZW4dfMUfl8Er0u1bU490hSYti6jgyxDY&__tn__=-]K-R> and Denise McLerran Seigart <https://www.facebook.com/groups/423723264332161/user/72303220/?__cft__[0]=AZghcH79MnC92nq3T0P_fHH4n3oetKnmIa12Oxf_Yd7JMNnI77Z8IVo2prwBLfA3MmV7iRkMH3J7iHYjpIYP99c5rpufGWC4QaO5S0Yh5yeu9YpRZW4dfMUfl8Er0u1bU490hSYti6jgyxDY&__tn__=-]K-R> who live adjacent to the park (lucky them!). They treated us to a delicious lavish brunch and 19 species at their feeders and gardens. We thank Bill and Denise for their gracious hospitality! We were thrilled to see a hummingbird nectaring at the cardinal flowers, three bluebirds chowing down on mealworms, a scarlet tanager and a rose-breasted grosbeak among the usual feeder birds for our area. What a wonderful way to wrap up our morning together! Note the NEW meeting time--7:30 am starting on Thursday, Sept 24. We seasonally adjust our start time but keep it early to still make it easy for folks to bird before work or class. We'll gather at the Ellis Hollow Community Center and then car pool to the nearby Durland Preserve. From Ithaca, drive east on Rt. 366, through the hamlet of Varna. Turn right on Turkey Hill Road , left on Ellis Hollow Creek Road and then right on Genung Road. The Community Center will be on your left after a mile or so.
313-550-1437 261 Coddington Road Apt. B Ithaca, New York 14850
https://uuma.zoom.us/j/2065380867 "All that you touch you Change. All that you Change changes you. The only lasting truth is Change. God is Change." Octavia Butler, The Parable of the Sower
Date: 9/17/26 12:25 pm From: Tracy McLellan <trcymclellan...> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Links for tonight's Peter Kaestner lecture
Here are the links for tonight's lecture by Peter Kaestner, “Lessons from
The Big Life: It Takes Many Villages to See the World’s Birds” at 7:30. To
be held in the
Cornell Willard Straight Browsing Library.
*In person* (registration not required,but encouraged)
Date: 9/17/26 11:22 am From: Monica Adelman <monicaladelman...> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Cayuga Bird Club Weekend Activities
*Saturday, September 19*
Field Trip: Fall Warblers & More with Gladys Birdsall
*8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. | Newman Arboretum*
Join Gladys Birdsall for a morning bird walk around the Newman Arboretum,
part of the Cornell Botanical Gardens. We will be looking for migrating
Warblers and other songbirds. The Arboretum has a paved road which loops
around it and paved walking paths. Parts of the walk will take us up and
down some hills, or possibly across mowed lawns. Dress for the weather and
bring water and a snack. We will meet at the parking areas near the
Houston Pond at 8 a.m. The walk is open to all, you do not need to be a
bird club member. If you have questions, please email Gladys at
<gjb5...>
Beginner Bird Walk with Diane Morton and Ken Kemphues
*8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. | Lab of Ornithology*
Join us every Saturday and Sunday morning at 8:30am for a walk around
Sapsucker Woods looking and listening for birds. Walks last about 1½-2
hours and are targeted for beginners, though all levels are welcome. Meet
by the Lab of Ornithology visitor center entrance. No registration
necessary. Binoculars are available for loan, though you should bring your
own if you have them. The Visitor Center does not open until 10am. There is
a porta-potty in the parking lot.
*Sunday, September 20*
Beginner Bird Walk with Beth Bannister and Leigh Stivers
*8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. | Lab of Ornithology*
Join us every Saturday and Sunday morning at 8:30am for a walk around
Sapsucker Woods looking and listening for birds. Walks last about 1½-2
hours and are targeted for beginners, though all levels are welcome. Meet
by the Lab of Ornithology visitor center entrance. No registration
necessary. Binoculars are available for loan, though you should bring your
own if you have them. The Visitor Center does not open until 10am. There is
a porta-potty in the parking lot.
Date: 9/16/26 12:32 pm From: Astrid Jirka <astrid...> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Birding Cruises coming up on Cayuga Lake
Hi folks,
There are two cruises coming up, hosted by Discover Cayuga Lake, that may interest you.
*Improving Bird Habitat- Benefits for Cayuga's Watershed with **Jody Enck* Jody leads the Conservation Action Committee for the Cayuga Bird Club and has been leading efforts related to native plan restoration at Light House Point. Learn about how native plants and local and migratory birds are intricately linked around our watershed. Wed., Sept. 23rd, 6:30-8pm Booking link: https://fareharbor.com/embeds/book/discovercayugalake/items/214372/availability/1989155450/book/?full-items=yes&flow=356850
Bring your binoculars if you have them! There are a few pair available to borrow on the boat. These cruises are free to the public as part of our Love Your Lake Community Cruise series, but we hope you will donate to our non-profit mission, and reservations are necessary.
Happy cruising and birding!
*Astrid Jirka* Director of Tourism Initiatives ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Discover Cayuga Lake - "Tourism with a Mission" www.discovercayugalake.org <http://discovercayugalake.org/> Tompkins Center for History & Culture, Suite 303 607-327-LAKE (5253)
Date: 9/16/26 10:18 am From: Diane Morton <dianegmorton...> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Please support the Montezuma Muckrace fundraiser
The annual Montezuma Muckrace, held on September 11-12 this year, is a 24-hour bird-a-thon in which teams or individuals compete to find as many birds as possible within the Montezuma Wetlands Complex. Sponsored by the Friends of Montezuma, a 501(c)(3) organization, it raises money for habitat restoration, education, and other projects within the Complex. The Cayuga Bird Club sponsored two teams for last weekend's Muckrace:
*Arrogant Bustards -- *Bob McGuire, Ken Kemphues, Rachel Lodder, Sandy Podulka, Stephanie Herrick, Susan Danskin and Diane Morton. (100 species, Recreational category)
*Shutterbirds* -- Suan Yong, Mark Miller and Beth Bannister (80 species, Photo category)
To make a donation to the Friends of Montezuma in support of either of our teams, use the links below.
313-550-1437 261 Coddington Road Apt. B Ithaca, New York 14850
https://uuma.zoom.us/j/2065380867 "All that you touch you Change. All that you Change changes you. The only lasting truth is Change. God is Change." Octavia Butler, The Parable of the Sower
Date: 9/12/26 11:21 am From: Tracy McLellan <trcymclellan...> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Peter Kaestner lecture-correction
Registration for in-person attendance is not required. But the organizers would appreciate hearing if people are coming, so they know how much food to have available. The previous message has the Zoom link needed for the talk, not a registration for it. I apologize for the confusion. Tracy
Date: 9/12/26 11:14 am From: Tracy McLellan <trcymclellan...> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Peter Kaestner Lecture Registration required
Peter Kaestner will be speaking at the Tanenbaum Speaker Series, sponsored
by Sigma Phi and Cornell University, on Thursday, September 17 at 7:30 p.m.
at the Cornell Willard Straight Browsing Library.
His talk, “Lessons from The Big Life: It Takes Many Villages to See the
World’s Birds,” promises to be a fascinating preview of his forthcoming
Random House book, The Big Life, coming May 7, 2027.
Peter is a retired U.S. diplomat and truly extraordinary birder who has
spent more than six decades traveling the world in pursuit of birds. He
holds Guinness World Records for being the first person to see a
representative of every bird family and, in 2024, becoming the first person
to see 10,000 bird species in the wild. Along the way, Peter has gathered
an extraordinary collection of experiences and adventures to share, and it
will be a fascinating evening for anyone who shares a passion for
ornithology and birding.
The event is free and open to all, registration required, with refreshments
to follow.
*Date & Time for Both In-Person and Remote Options:*
- September 17
*In-Person Attendance *(*RSVP Required **- First come first served - RSVP
does not guarantee entry):*
Date: 9/12/26 6:09 am From: Eveline V. Ferretti <ef15...> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Cape May Warblers
Having coffee on our rickety back deck this morning, my husband and I had the delight of spying three or so Cape May Warblers working over the spruce tree next to our house. The first I've ever seen (at least consciously).
Our mulberry tree is also busy with Cedar Waxwings.
Everyone tanking up nicely for the long haul!
Eveline Ferretti
(she/her)
Public Programs & Communication Administrator
Albert R. Mann Library
Cornell University Library
237 Mann Drive
Ithaca, NY 14853
Tel: (607) 254-4993
Please note: I am sending this email at a time in which I am engaged with Cornell University Library business but which may fall outside of normal workday hours. Please respond at your own convenience. Thank you.
About a dozen birders gathered this morning to bird at Lindsay-Parsons Biodiversity Preserve. Yellow-throated Vireos were heard singing from multiple places all morning, but alas, no definitive sightings. Walking down the recently mowed Big Meadow to the beaver ponds, we spied a Great Blue Heron and several Wood Ducks in the distance, along with Cedar Waxwings and European Starlings. A few small passerines made quiet calls here and there and were only seen briefly and/or backlit, mostly unidentified, except for a semi-cooperative flycatcher (Empid or Pewee? - see photo <https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10245499777126797&<set...>). Circling back to Coleman Lake, covered in a uniform green layer of duckweed, a Green Heron hunted close while a Great Blue Heron sat a little farther back, with a good number of Wood Ducks littered around both sides of the berm. For breakfast we drove up to Morning Moon in Newfield, next to the covered bridge.
NEXT WEEK: meet 7:00am at Sapsucker Woods to carpool to Fillmore Glen State Park in Moravia, or meet at Fillmore Glen around 7:30am, at the main parking lot by the pavilion. If you arrive late and don't see anyone, continue driving up Park Road to the upper part of the park to find us.
Date: 9/10/26 9:18 am From: Jody Enck <jodyenck...> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Collaboration between Cayuga Bird Club and Landscape Architecture students
Hello Cayuga Birders,
This fall, Cornell University landscape architecture students are helping us design an area within Lighthouse Point Woods so that we can plant native trees and shrubs of the right species and density to ultimately result in a high quality bird habitat in the future.
A small group of us is meeting with their professor, Josh Cerra, this evening around 5pm to walk-through the site and do some planning. If you already have been part of our group doing habitat restoration in Lighthouse Point Woods, here is a chance for you to provide some focussed input. If you haven't previously been involved, but want to learn more, this is an opportunity for you to come down and check out the project.
If you plan to come, please respond to this email so I can be on the look out for you (and I will pick up pizza if I know how many folks are coming).
Thanks Jody
Jody W. Enck, PhD Conservation Social Scientist, and Founder of the Sister Bird Club Network 607-379-5940
