Date: 2/1/26 7:44 am From: Peter Saracino <petersaracino...> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Four Winter World Walks in February
Friends: No Winter lasts forever, and the current one is moving fast - only 48 days till the March Equinox! Come join us as we continue exploring the many marvels of this sometimes harsh, yet beautiful season. Walks are free and begin at the Refuge Visitor Center at 10am. Dress for the weather and bring binoculars, sunscreen and a friend. No pets please. Dates: February 7, 14, 21 & 28. Hope to see you there! Pete Saracino/Refuge Volunteer Naturalist/New York State Master Naturalist Volunteer -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: Visit: http://LISTS.cornell.edu for more information Posting Address: <Cayugabirds-L...> Archives: The Mail Archive: https://www.mail-archive.com/<cayugabirds-l...>/maillist.html Sightings: Please submit your observations to eBird at http://www.ebird.org. --
Date: 2/1/26 3:49 am From: Jody Enck <jodyenck...> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Potential Cayuga Bird Club trip to Madagascar
Hello All,
The Cayuga Bird Club has learned of a potential and amazing opportunity to visit Madagascar for birding for about three weeks from October 5-26, 2026. Yes, this is a long trip and it is not cheap (around $10K not including international airfare). However, it visits almost all of the unique habitats and has a great chance of encountering the vast majority of the 170 or so bird species endemic to the island (5 entire bird families are endemic to Madagascar). It also will be an opportunity to encounter other unique wildlife including Lemurs and Chameleons among lots of other things. This opportunity has a short window for us to decide if the club wants to try to take it on. Please let Jody Enck know as soon as possible if you are interested. I can share the proposed itinerary with you. The cost of the trip does include all ground transportation within Madagascar, meals, lodging, and several in-country flights.
Email me at <jodyenck...> if you want to see the itinerary or have questions. This opportunity only exists for a few days. Jody
Date: 1/31/26 5:37 pm From: Colleen Richards <clr82...> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Cayuga Bird Club February meeting
The February Cayuga Bird Club meeting will be next Monday, February 9th at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology at 7:30 pm.[Remember: 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 speakers] Members of the Club often share their experiences of traveling and birding with us. This month we will hear from Diane Morton and Suan Yong as they present "Birding in Australia and Papua New Guinea".Australasia’s unique flora and fauna, full of endemics found nowhere else in the world, make it a fascinating birding destination. In 2024, five Cayuga Bird Club members (Diane and Suan along with Deirdre Anderson, Ken Kemphues, and Susan Danskin) participated in a birding tour of Eastern Australia and Papua New Guinea, led by Field Guides Birding Tours. By visiting a variety of coastal, wetland, rainforest and highland habitats, we saw more than four hundred enchanting and iconic bird species. These included more than a dozen different birds-of-paradise, a Southern Cassowary adult with its chick, two lyrebird species, fairy-wrens, bowerbirds, and so much more! Mammals were also great fun to watch: Flying Foxes, a swimming Platypus, Pademelons, and Wallabies. Join us as we revisit highlights from our adventure to this very special part of the world. About the Speakers: Suan Yong, Diane Morton, Ken Kemphues, Susan Danskin and Deirdre Anderson are all current members of the Cayuga Bird Club who enjoy traveling to see new birds. There will be a speaker dinner with Diane and Suan before the meeting at 5:30pm at the Sumo Restaurant located at the Cayuga Mall on Triphammer Road. If interested please email <clr82...> by noon on Monday in order for reservations to be made. Hope to see many of you there.Colleen RichardsCorresponding SecretaryCayuga Bird Club Cayuga Bird Club meetings are held on the second Monday of each month, September through June, and 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.
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Date: 1/30/26 11:51 am From: Peter Saracino <petersaracino...> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Woodland High-Speed Chase
Had a cool experience today while walking on the Ontario Pathways near Wheat Road looking for the winter cocoons of large moths. I was coming out of the woods when I heard a noise behind me and to my left. I looked to see a large black bird chasing a hawk through the woods - just below tree-top height. I wasn't sure what type of hawk but as for the black bird (it was a bit larger than the hawk) I immediately thought "crow".....until it gave the distinct croak of a raven! The chase continued as the birds bobbed and weaved their way through and then out the woods. Cool to see! Sar -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: Visit: http://LISTS.cornell.edu for more information Posting Address: <Cayugabirds-L...> Archives: The Mail Archive: https://www.mail-archive.com/<cayugabirds-l...>/maillist.html Sightings: Please submit your observations to eBird at http://www.ebird.org. --
We have had many Cardinals around this winter as well as other species that strike us as unusual in both specie and numbers.
This afternoon we counted the maximum number of Cards seen at one time. Never a winter time waster and a fun thing to do, especially with snow coming down outside..
The high was 14 Male and 9 female. Earlier this winter we had something like 13 of each. Since then our Coopers has accounted for 3 males that we know of.
Date: 1/29/26 12:05 pm From: Shelley Page <shelleypage.imagine...> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Jan 29 Thursday Birding Meetup and Feb 5 Plans
Yeah, we were out there today! The Thursday Birding Meetup shows up to bird even when it's zero, warming up to balmy single digits as the sun comes up. Our stated mission for the day was drive-by winter field birds but we immediately pivoted to Myer's Point after hearing that there might be some "good birds" there. So twelve birders descended on the point and we did see many birds beyond the usual Canada geese, mallards, assorted gulls and tundra swans. Common goldeneyes were out in force along with greater scaup, ring-billed ducks and both common and red breasted mergansers. The beautiful morning light made watching the liftoffs and landings a lovely distraction from our freezing bodies (some in our group came prepared to be in a car for the morning, not bundled up for arctic conditions). Two particular highlights stood out--two white-winged scoters and an eagle flushing the waterfowl in a flurry. We then shifted our attention to the original goal of finding snow buntings and horned larks on the backroads of Lansing. We hit pay dirt along Davis and Fenner Roads with these winter field birds along with tree and savannah sparrows, and juncos. Our hope was finding a Lapland Longspur but, alas, not this time. This is a great time to get out and do some car birding along the fields around Ithaca. The snow cover drives these lil cuties to the road areas and also along tracks of freshly laid manure. All in all, we saw 20 species over four locations--thank you, Tracy McLellan <https://www.facebook.com/groups/423723264332161/user/100000604080233/?__cft__[0]=AZaX3WfjwBT_Q0xm-f-_IDS77D1axc15hOUXvmON2AmHkdvacEwEf90vJ6jXfPxxFXT7uKTNu4Z6vZ9D46bVAmflQzX9tv5WcxJb4mAz4G1T7dmN7oZwS7c-_HtmFMCldTnGjKFmtyQuVAP-byIjNmea&__tn__=-]K-R>, for our ebirding. Not bad for a single digit morning! Eleven of us enjoyed breakfast at our usual Lansing hangout, the East Shore Roadhouse. Want to join us next week? We're going to Shindagin Hollow in search of evening grosbeaks and beyond. Meet us at 7:30 am--we bird until around 9 but you can leave earlier if you need to get to work or elsewhere. All birders warmly welcomed even if it's zero out there. From Ithaca, take 79 east. After passing Caroline elementary school about 0.5 mile, turn right on Boiceville Road. At the end turn left on Central Chapel Road. In 2.5 miles, turn left at a Y junction onto Shindagin Hollow Road. In 0.5 miles, the plowing ends at a snowplow turnaround. Do not park in the turnaround, but turn back and park along the road. Shelley Page *she/they/ki*
313-550-1437 261 Coddington Road Apt. B Ithaca, New York 14850
Date: 1/28/26 6:45 am From: Patricia A. Curran <pc21...> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Re: signs of spring
I heard a cardinal singing 'pretty, pretty' around 7:15 am today.
Pat
________________________________
From: <CAYUGABIRDS-L...> <CAYUGABIRDS-L...> on behalf of Liz Rowland <lizzyandjoe...>
Sent: Wednesday, January 28, 2026 4:38 AM
To: Tom Vawter <atvawter...>
Cc: <cayugabirds-l...> <cayugabirds-l...>
Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] Ornithological Anachronism
Apparently Harris’s Hawk is one of the most common bird of prey kept in captivity in the uk because it’s not classed as rare or endangered and doesn’t require paperwork.
(Rapid aid.com<http://aid.com>)
Can’t trick a birder!
We’re in the uk at the moment- I’ll keep my eyes open for a Harris’s Hawk!
Liz and Joe Rowland
On Tue, 27 Jan 2026 at 23:46, Tom Vawter <atvawter...><mailto:<atvawter...>> wrote:
We saw Hamnet last night. The best movie I’ve seen in a long time. It’s set in early 17th C England, mostly around Stratford upon Avon. A hawk figures prominently in the early scenes, and there are a number of good veiws of the animal. It is quite clearly a Harris’s Hawk, not common in west-central England.
Tom Vawter
Apparently Harris’s Hawk is one of the most common bird of prey kept in
captivity in the uk because it’s not classed as rare or endangered and
doesn’t require paperwork.
(Rapid aid.com)
Can’t trick a birder!
We’re in the uk at the moment- I’ll keep my eyes open for a Harris’s Hawk!
*Liz and Joe Rowland*
On Tue, 27 Jan 2026 at 23:46, Tom Vawter <atvawter...> wrote:
> We saw Hamnet last night. The best movie I’ve seen in a long time. It’s
> set in early 17th C England, mostly around Stratford upon Avon. A hawk
> figures prominently in the early scenes, and there are a number of good
> veiws of the animal. It is quite clearly a Harris’s Hawk, not common in
> west-central England.
> Tom Vawter
>
> --
>
> Cayugabirds-L List Info:
>
> Visit: http://LISTS.cornell.edu for more information
>
> Posting Address: <Cayugabirds-L...>
>
> Archives:
>
> The Mail Archive:
> https://www.mail-archive.com/<cayugabirds-l...>/maillist.html >
> Sightings: Please submit your observations to eBird at
> http://www.ebird.org.
>
> --
>
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Visit: http://LISTS.cornell.edu for more information
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Archives:
The Mail Archive: https://www.mail-archive.com/<cayugabirds-l...>/maillist.html Sightings: Please submit your observations to eBird at http://www.ebird.org.
--
We saw Hamnet last night. The best movie I’ve seen in a long time. It’s
set in early 17th C England, mostly around Stratford upon Avon. A hawk
figures prominently in the early scenes, and there are a number of good
veiws of the animal. It is quite clearly a Harris’s Hawk, not common in
west-central England.
Tom Vawter
--
Cayugabirds-L List Info:
Visit: http://LISTS.cornell.edu for more information
Posting Address: <Cayugabirds-L...>
Archives:
The Mail Archive: https://www.mail-archive.com/<cayugabirds-l...>/maillist.html Sightings: Please submit your observations to eBird at http://www.ebird.org.
--
Date: 1/24/26 7:14 am From: Suan Yong <suan.yong...> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Field Trip CANCELLED Sunday
Field trip this Sunday is cancelled. I was waiting to see how the timing of the storm's arrival pans out, but it sounds like it'll start snowing early, and even if early snow amounts may not be high, road salt treatment could be ineffective, making for dangerous driving conditions.
Stay warm and safe everyone!
Suan
> On Jan 21, 2026, at 7:33 PM, Suan Hsi Yong <suan.yong...> wrote:
>
> Hello all,
>
> I will be leading a Cayuga Bird Club field trip this Sunday, January
> 25, from 8:00am to noon, meeting at Stewart Park's east end. NOTE that
> this is a date change (it had previously been scheduled for Saturday).
>
> Sunday is also around when the big winter storm may arrive in our
> area, so check the club calendar
> (https://www.cayugabirdclub.org/calendar) for potential cancellation.
>
> Suan
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Visit: http://LISTS.cornell.edu for more information
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The Mail Archive: https://www.mail-archive.com/<cayugabirds-l...>/maillist.html Sightings: Please submit your observations to eBird at http://www.ebird.org.
--
Date: 1/22/26 7:09 pm From: Peter Saracino <petersaracino...> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Winter World Walk of 1/24 Cancelled
So sorry friends, but a medical issue has come up and I must cancel this Saturday's walk. Rest assured more are being planned for February and will be posted asap. In the meantime, can you begin to sense the subtle changes in the length and quality of the light? The first stirrings of the Prevernal.... Enjoy the coming storm and remember, no winter lasts forever. Pete Saracino/ Refuge Volunteer Naturalist/ New York State Master Naturalist Volunteer -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: Visit: http://LISTS.cornell.edu for more information Posting Address: <Cayugabirds-L...> Archives: The Mail Archive: https://www.mail-archive.com/<cayugabirds-l...>/maillist.html Sightings: Please submit your observations to eBird at http://www.ebird.org. --
Date: 1/22/26 2:32 pm From: Shelley Page <shelleypage.imagine...> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Jan 22 Thursday Birding Meetup Recap and Jan 29 Plans
It's always fun to check out a new birding spot and today's Thursday Birding Meetup enjoyed exploring Marian Hartill Park on Northwoods Drive in Lansing. We were barely out of our cars as hairy and pileated woodpeckers gave us a great start. Seventeen of us walked the paved trails through edge habitat and some wooded areas in this greenbelt amidst the housing developments. As it happened we saw 17 species (thanks for e-bird list, Jody Enck!), many in beautiful morning light as they perched near the tree tops. Woodpeckers and nuthatches were the main attractions but the usual assortment of chickadees, titmice, blue jays and others. We also appreciated a lovely robin's nest and a close look at a wasp nest, the little bonus discoveries of winter birding. Today our group was a mix of birders who participate regularly and some new folks. When we say that we warmly welcome all birders, we really mean it! So nice to meet the newcomers while birding in a new place, a spot to which we plan to return in another season. Ten of us gathered for breakfast and sharing of birding stories at East Shore Roadhouse, one of our favorite breakfast spots. Want to join us next week? Jan 29 at 7:30 am: Meet at Sapsucker Woods at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. We will carpool/caravan to search for winter field birds. Think horned larks, snow buntings and maybe even a lapland longspur. The predicted snow may force birds to forage near the roads so we are hopeful for a successful foray. Shelley Page *she/they/ki*
313-550-1437 261 Coddington Road Apt. B Ithaca, New York 14850
I will be leading a Cayuga Bird Club field trip this Sunday, January 25, from 8:00am to noon, meeting at Stewart Park's east end. NOTE that this is a date change (it had previously been scheduled for Saturday).
Sunday is also around when the big winter storm may arrive in our area, so check the club calendar (https://www.cayugabirdclub.org/calendar) for potential cancellation.
Date: 1/20/26 8:29 am From: Barbara B. Eden <beb1...> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] For tonight’s TC legislature mtg
All,
Below is the proposed resolution on the agenda
And if you cannot attend you can watch it on you tube
There will be many folks speaking during privilege of the floor at the beginning and of course the discussion amongst the legislators
Res. No. _d_ Resolution Requesting New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to Reject the Modified Water Withdrawal Permit Application from Cayuga Operating Company, LLC (DEC ID #7-5032-00019/00004) and Instead Require a New Application and Environmental Review Process (Submitted by Legislator Dawson)
~Barbara
From: <CAYUGABIRDS-L...> <CAYUGABIRDS-L...> On Behalf Of Karen Edelstein
Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2026 11:19 AM
To: Karin Suskin <karinleesus...>
Cc: Harold Mills <harold.mills...>; <Cayugabirds-L...>
Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] Please Read: Risk to Local Birding Area
Hi Karin,
The topic at the meeting tonight is specifically about the water withdrawal permit renewal only. Harold is talking about the much larger impact of the entire data center. I hope there is large attendance, but also keep in mind that the topic on the table is quite specific.
K
On Tue, Jan 20, 2026, 11:01 AM Karin Suskin <karinleesus...><mailto:<karinleesus...>> wrote:
The county legislature is meeting tonight and on the agenda is requesting the DEC to deny the data center permit until an environmental study is done. Please show at 5:30 tonight with concerns.
Karin Suskin
On Tue, Jan 20, 2026 at 10:46 AM Harold Mills <harold.mills...><mailto:<harold.mills...>> wrote:
I am posting the following with permission of the Cayugabirds-L Listowner:
I would like to be in touch with people who have birded at the Cayuga Shores Wildlife Management Area, aka Bell Station, in Lansing, or other places nearby who are concerned about plans to build a data center on the property immediately to the south of Cayuga Shores. I am concerned that noise and light from the data center could adversely impact birds and other wildlife at Cayuga Shores and other places nearby. If you might be interested in joining me and others to oppose the data center, or at least minimize the harm it will do to wildlife and birding, please contact me off list by emailing me at <harold.mills...><mailto:<harold.mills...>. Thank you!
Date: 1/20/26 8:20 am From: Karen Edelstein <karen.edelstein...> Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] Please Read: Risk to Local Birding Area
Hi Karin,
The topic at the meeting tonight is specifically about the water withdrawal
permit renewal only. Harold is talking about the much larger impact of the
entire data center. I hope there is large attendance, but also keep in mind
that the topic on the table is quite specific.
K
On Tue, Jan 20, 2026, 11:01 AM Karin Suskin <karinleesus...> wrote:
> The county legislature is meeting tonight and on the agenda is requesting
> the DEC to deny the data center permit until an environmental study is
> done. Please show at 5:30 tonight with concerns.
> Karin Suskin
>
>
> On Tue, Jan 20, 2026 at 10:46 AM Harold Mills <harold.mills...>
> wrote:
>
>> I am posting the following with permission of the Cayugabirds-L Listowner:
>>
>> I would like to be in touch with people who have birded at the Cayuga
>> Shores Wildlife Management Area, aka Bell Station, in Lansing, or other
>> places nearby who are concerned about plans to build a data center on the
>> property immediately to the south of Cayuga Shores. I am concerned that
>> noise and light from the data center could adversely impact birds and other
>> wildlife at Cayuga Shores and other places nearby. If you might be
>> interested in joining me and others to oppose the data center, or at least
>> minimize the harm it will do to wildlife and birding, please contact me off
>> list by emailing me at <harold.mills...> Thank you!
>>
>> Harold Mills
>>
>> --
>>
>> Cayugabirds-L List Info:
>>
>> Visit: http://LISTS.cornell.edu for more information
>>
>> Posting Address: <Cayugabirds-L...>
>>
>> Archives:
>>
>> The Mail Archive:
>> https://www.mail-archive.com/<cayugabirds-l...>/maillist.html >>
>> Sightings: Please submit your observations to eBird at
>> http://www.ebird.org.
>>
>> --
>>
> --
>
> Cayugabirds-L List Info:
>
> Visit: http://LISTS.cornell.edu for more information
>
> Posting Address: <Cayugabirds-L...>
>
> Archives:
>
> The Mail Archive:
> https://www.mail-archive.com/<cayugabirds-l...>/maillist.html >
> Sightings: Please submit your observations to eBird at
> http://www.ebird.org.
>
> --
>
--
Cayugabirds-L List Info:
Visit: http://LISTS.cornell.edu for more information
Posting Address: <Cayugabirds-L...>
Archives:
The Mail Archive: https://www.mail-archive.com/<cayugabirds-l...>/maillist.html Sightings: Please submit your observations to eBird at http://www.ebird.org.
--
Date: 1/20/26 8:01 am From: Karin Suskin <karinleesus...> Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] Please Read: Risk to Local Birding Area
The county legislature is meeting tonight and on the agenda is requesting
the DEC to deny the data center permit until an environmental study is
done. Please show at 5:30 tonight with concerns.
Karin Suskin
On Tue, Jan 20, 2026 at 10:46 AM Harold Mills <harold.mills...>
wrote:
> I am posting the following with permission of the Cayugabirds-L Listowner:
>
> I would like to be in touch with people who have birded at the Cayuga
> Shores Wildlife Management Area, aka Bell Station, in Lansing, or other
> places nearby who are concerned about plans to build a data center on the
> property immediately to the south of Cayuga Shores. I am concerned that
> noise and light from the data center could adversely impact birds and other
> wildlife at Cayuga Shores and other places nearby. If you might be
> interested in joining me and others to oppose the data center, or at least
> minimize the harm it will do to wildlife and birding, please contact me off
> list by emailing me at <harold.mills...> Thank you!
>
> Harold Mills
>
> --
>
> Cayugabirds-L List Info:
>
> Visit: http://LISTS.cornell.edu for more information
>
> Posting Address: <Cayugabirds-L...>
>
> Archives:
>
> The Mail Archive:
> https://www.mail-archive.com/<cayugabirds-l...>/maillist.html >
> Sightings: Please submit your observations to eBird at
> http://www.ebird.org.
>
> --
>
--
Cayugabirds-L List Info:
Visit: http://LISTS.cornell.edu for more information
Posting Address: <Cayugabirds-L...>
Archives:
The Mail Archive: https://www.mail-archive.com/<cayugabirds-l...>/maillist.html Sightings: Please submit your observations to eBird at http://www.ebird.org.
--
Date: 1/20/26 7:45 am From: Harold Mills <harold.mills...> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Please Read: Risk to Local Birding Area
I am posting the following with permission of the Cayugabirds-L Listowner:
I would like to be in touch with people who have birded at the Cayuga Shores Wildlife Management Area, aka Bell Station, in Lansing, or other places nearby who are concerned about plans to build a data center on the property immediately to the south of Cayuga Shores. I am concerned that noise and light from the data center could adversely impact birds and other wildlife at Cayuga Shores and other places nearby. If you might be interested in joining me and others to oppose the data center, or at least minimize the harm it will do to wildlife and birding, please contact me off list by emailing me at <harold.mills...> Thank you!
Date: 1/19/26 9:15 am From: Peter Saracino <petersaracino...> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Winter World Walks Continue
Friends: Winter is a challenging season for many life forms. Solar, thermal and nutritional energy are all at a premium. A key to survival is energy economy - finding a safe place to lower one's metabolism (usually with the help of a natural antifreeze) in order to conserve energy. There seems as many places to do this as there are species. That being the case, where in the winter can I find the following: a snapping turtle a beaver a purple martin a dragonfly nymph a green frog a monarch a mourning cloak butterfly a wood frog a stonefly nymph a rough grouse on a cold night with 11 inches of snow on the ground the cocoon of a luna moth an American toad the larva of a goldenrod gall fly a muskrat a golden-crowned kinglet a raccoon the cocoon of a cecropia moth a common green darner dragonfly a fox the leaves and/or flowers of next summer's trees and shrubs Winter is a fascinating classroom with many wonders waiting to be explored. Come join us as we seek to examine and understand some of the marvels of this harsh and beautiful season. Next walk is January 24th. We begin at the Montezuma Refuge Visitor Center at 10 am. Dress warm and bring binoculars, sun screen and a friend. No pets please. Hope to see you there! Pete Saracino/Refuge Volunteer Naturalist/New York State Master Naturalist Volunteer -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: Visit: http://LISTS.cornell.edu for more information Posting Address: <Cayugabirds-L...> Archives: The Mail Archive: https://www.mail-archive.com/<cayugabirds-l...>/maillist.html Sightings: Please submit your observations to eBird at http://www.ebird.org. --
Date: 1/15/26 2:02 pm From: AB Clark <anneb.clark...> Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] [External Email] UNAs threatened
HI Bob et al.
Glad you found these and I apologize for not answering yesterday. I was in
fact en route back from Seattle, much of the time in the air or
skibbling to the next plane.
Just to answer a few other questions--yes, FLT is very aware and was
working with the county EMC to identify how the plans were impacting known
UNAs--the Trillium Woods itself and the Freeville Fir Swamp. In fact, the
plans do include a donation of part of the swamp area to the Wetland Trust,
which holds the areas of swamp N of the road as well as contiguous swamp on
the S (same) side. But they leave portions of the UNA designated area and
its buffer.
One of our CB members has talked with the developers themselves and it
appears that they simply were not aware of the UNA designations. This might
be come a pre-meeting...we will see. In any case, I wanted to contact you
all as people interested in speaking about related ecological
issues--breeding birds (who are not always present--including rails,
gallinule, etc), migration stopovers, roosting areas for many species--plus
step stone links as foraging for herons, etc. Breeding bobcats, red and
gray fox in the acres East of the swamp, etc.
best,
anne
On Wed, Jan 14, 2026 at 11:40 AM bob mcguire <bmcguire...>
wrote:
> Thanks, Anne, for posting this. Here is the proposal (or set of maps, at
> least).
> https://www.townofdrydenny.gov/projects-under-review/page/172-ed-hill-road-conservation-subdivision-query >
> I look forward to commenting ops the proposal!
>
> Bob
>
> On Jan 13, 2026, at 3:28 PM, AB Clark <anneb.clark...> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> To all local birders,
>
> The article attached below is worth noting and turning out to the Jan 22
> meeting for if you value the Hile School Road Wetland, of which the
> Freeville Fir Swamp UNA is part. There are many other potential impacts of
> this proposed development. I am speaking to you all as a concerned nearby
> resident of the property, but the impacts on Dryden Township and the county
> go beyond this.
>
> Happy to answer more questions insofar as I can,
>
> Anne
>
> Anne B. Clark, Ph.D.
> Biological Sciences, Emeritus
> Binghamton University
> Binghamton, NY 13902-6000
> (607) 222-0905 (cell)
> (607) 777-2438 (Biol Sci office)
> *Power concedes nothing without a demand. *
> *It never did and it never will.* Frederick Douglass
>
>
>
>
> This from the Jan 11 issue, Tompkins Green Scene:
>
> *Two of Tompkins County’s Unique Natural Areas in Dryden Threatened by
> Potential Development*
>
> Two of Tompkins County’s Unique Natural Areas (UNA) would be threatened by
> a proposed residential subdivision development that seeks to carve up all
> of the Trillium Woods (UNA-73) and a large portion of the Freeville Fir
> Tree Swamp (UNA-74) into units for sale. Trillium Woods contains one of the
> densest collections of breathtakingly beautiful spring wildflowers in the
> County. The Freeville Fir Tree Swamp is an extensive wetland environment,
> and the only one of its type in the County, that supports mammoth hemlock
> trees and species that can only be found elsewhere hundreds of miles north
> of Ithaca. It also includes a population of the rare and endangered
> globeflower.
>
> The county’s Environmental Management Council’s designation of a land
> parcel as a Unique Natural Area does not in itself convey any legal
> protections. It provides a planning tool so that landowners
> and municipalities will be made aware of the special, sometimes
> irreplaceable, qualities of these areas so that they will be protected and
> any disruption of them can be avoided before approval for land development
> is granted.
>
> In this case, it will be up to the Dryden Planning Board to require these
> areas be protected as part of the development plan. The Dryden Planning
> Board’s next meeting is Thursday, January 22 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, in
> the Town Public Meeting Room, 93 East Main Street, Dryden, NY 13053, or via
> Hybrid tools, and the current owner’s development proposal is expected to
> be formally introduced at that meeting.
>
> For the Planning Board to resolve to defend the UNAs, it is
> vitally important that the public let the Board know how important
> protecting these sites is to them, by attending the Board meeting and/or
> sending letters. Together we can make the Board aware that protecting these
> rare, beautiful, environmentally sensitive, and special places is the only
> correct decision.
>
> --
>
> Cayugabirds-L List Info:
>
> Visit: http://LISTS.cornell.edu <http://lists.cornell.edu/> for more
> information
>
> Posting Address: <Cayugabirds-L...>
>
> Archives:
>
> The Mail Archive:
> https://www.mail-archive.com/<cayugabirds-l...>/maillist.html >
> Sightings: Please submit your observations to eBird at
> http://www.ebird.org.
>
> --
>
>
>
--
Cayugabirds-L List Info:
Visit: http://LISTS.cornell.edu for more information
Posting Address: <Cayugabirds-L...>
Archives:
The Mail Archive: https://www.mail-archive.com/<cayugabirds-l...>/maillist.html Sightings: Please submit your observations to eBird at http://www.ebird.org.
--
> On Jan 13, 2026, at 3:28 PM, AB Clark <anneb.clark...> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> To all local birders,
>
> The article attached below is worth noting and turning out to the Jan 22 meeting for if you value the Hile School Road Wetland, of which the Freeville Fir Swamp UNA is part. There are many other potential impacts of this proposed development. I am speaking to you all as a concerned nearby resident of the property, but the impacts on Dryden Township and the county go beyond this.
>
> Happy to answer more questions insofar as I can,
>
> Anne
>
> Anne B. Clark, Ph.D.
> Biological Sciences, Emeritus
> Binghamton University
> Binghamton, NY 13902-6000
> (607) 222-0905 (cell)
> (607) 777-2438 (Biol Sci office)
> Power concedes nothing without a demand.
> It never did and it never will. Frederick Douglass
>
>
>
>
> This from the Jan 11 issue, Tompkins Green Scene:
>
> Two of Tompkins County’s Unique Natural Areas in Dryden Threatened by Potential Development
>
> Two of Tompkins County’s Unique Natural Areas (UNA) would be threatened by a proposed residential subdivision development that seeks to carve up all of the Trillium Woods (UNA-73) and a large portion of the Freeville Fir Tree Swamp (UNA-74) into units for sale. Trillium Woods contains one of the densest collections of breathtakingly beautiful spring wildflowers in the County. The Freeville Fir Tree Swamp is an extensive wetland environment, and the only one of its type in the County, that supports mammoth hemlock trees and species that can only be found elsewhere hundreds of miles north of Ithaca. It also includes a population of the rare and endangered globeflower.
>
> The county’s Environmental Management Council’s designation of a land parcel as a Unique Natural Area does not in itself convey any legal protections. It provides a planning tool so that landowners and municipalities will be made aware of the special, sometimes irreplaceable, qualities of these areas so that they will be protected and any disruption of them can be avoided before approval for land development is granted.
>
> In this case, it will be up to the Dryden Planning Board to require these areas be protected as part of the development plan. The Dryden Planning Board’s next meeting is Thursday, January 22 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, in the Town Public Meeting Room, 93 East Main Street, Dryden, NY 13053, or via Hybrid tools, and the current owner’s development proposal is expected to be formally introduced at that meeting.
>
> For the Planning Board to resolve to defend the UNAs, it is vitally important that the public let the Board know how important protecting these sites is to them, by attending the Board meeting and/or sending letters. Together we can make the Board aware that protecting these rare, beautiful, environmentally sensitive, and special places is the only correct decision.
> --
>
> Cayugabirds-L List Info:
>
> Visit: http://LISTS.cornell.edu <http://lists.cornell.edu/> for more information
>
> Posting Address: <Cayugabirds-L...>
>
> Archives:
>
> The Mail Archive: https://www.mail-archive.com/<cayugabirds-l...>/maillist.html >
> Sightings: Please submit your observations to eBird at http://www.ebird.org.
>
> --
>
Date: 1/13/26 1:18 pm From: Peter Saracino <petersaracino...> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Winter World Walks Continue
"Each step that we make in the more intimate knowledge of Nature leads us to the entrance of new labyrinths." - Alexander von Humboldt
Days are short and sunlight is less intense. What's to blame? Why have so many trees and shrubs lost their leaves? Can creatures other than mammals hibernate? Why can some birds spend the winter with us while others are forced to leave? And where have all the reptiles, amphibians and insects gone? Where in the dead of winter can I find a reliable promise of spring? And where can I find an even more reliable promise in the evening sky? Come join us as we seek to experience some of the marvels of this harsh and beautiful season. Walks are free and begin at 10am at the Montezuma Refuge Visitor Center. No signups necessary. No pets please. Walk Dates are: 1/4, 1/11 & 1/24. Pete Saracino/Refuge Volunteer Naturalist/New York State Master Naturalist Volunteer -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: Visit: http://LISTS.cornell.edu for more information Posting Address: <Cayugabirds-L...> Archives: The Mail Archive: https://www.mail-archive.com/<cayugabirds-l...>/maillist.html Sightings: Please submit your observations to eBird at http://www.ebird.org. --
Date: 1/13/26 12:28 pm From: AB Clark <anneb.clark...> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Fwd: [External Email] UNAs threatened
To all local birders,
The article attached below is worth noting and turning out to the Jan 22
meeting for if you value the Hile School Road Wetland, of which the
Freeville Fir Swamp UNA is part. There are many other potential impacts of
this proposed development. I am speaking to you all as a concerned nearby
resident of the property, but the impacts on Dryden Township and the county
go beyond this.
Happy to answer more questions insofar as I can,
Anne
Anne B. Clark, Ph.D.
Biological Sciences, Emeritus
Binghamton University
Binghamton, NY 13902-6000
(607) 222-0905 (cell)
(607) 777-2438 (Biol Sci office)
*Power concedes nothing without a demand. *
*It never did and it never will.* Frederick Douglass
This from the Jan 11 issue, Tompkins Green Scene:
*Two of Tompkins County’s Unique Natural Areas in Dryden Threatened by
Potential Development*
Two of Tompkins County’s Unique Natural Areas (UNA) would be threatened by
a proposed residential subdivision development that seeks to carve up all
of the Trillium Woods (UNA-73) and a large portion of the Freeville Fir
Tree Swamp (UNA-74) into units for sale. Trillium Woods contains one of the
densest collections of breathtakingly beautiful spring wildflowers in the
County. The Freeville Fir Tree Swamp is an extensive wetland environment,
and the only one of its type in the County, that supports mammoth hemlock
trees and species that can only be found elsewhere hundreds of miles north
of Ithaca. It also includes a population of the rare and endangered
globeflower.
The county’s Environmental Management Council’s designation of a land
parcel as a Unique Natural Area does not in itself convey any legal
protections. It provides a planning tool so that landowners
and municipalities will be made aware of the special, sometimes
irreplaceable, qualities of these areas so that they will be protected and
any disruption of them can be avoided before approval for land development
is granted.
In this case, it will be up to the Dryden Planning Board to require these
areas be protected as part of the development plan. The Dryden Planning
Board’s next meeting is Thursday, January 22 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, in
the Town Public Meeting Room, 93 East Main Street, Dryden, NY 13053, or via
Hybrid tools, and the current owner’s development proposal is expected to
be formally introduced at that meeting.
For the Planning Board to resolve to defend the UNAs, it is
vitally important that the public let the Board know how important
protecting these sites is to them, by attending the Board meeting and/or
sending letters. Together we can make the Board aware that protecting these
rare, beautiful, environmentally sensitive, and special places is the only
correct decision.
--
Cayugabirds-L List Info:
Visit: http://LISTS.cornell.edu for more information
Posting Address: <Cayugabirds-L...>
Archives:
The Mail Archive: https://www.mail-archive.com/<cayugabirds-l...>/maillist.html Sightings: Please submit your observations to eBird at http://www.ebird.org.
--
Date: 1/10/26 2:09 pm From: Christopher T. Tessaglia-Hymes <cth4...> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] ADMIN: PLEASE READ — eList Changes
Hi Everyone,
This is a friendly reminder that the NYSbirds-L eList has migrated to a new server.
The new email address to use to post messages to this eList is <Cayugabirds-L...><mailto:<Cayugabirds-L...>.
For the benefit of readers viewing messages at the Mail Archive, the address to post messages is Cayugabirds-L at LISTS dot Cornell dot edu.
Everyone who was a prior subscriber of Cayugabirds-L should have been automatically added to the new eList server at the time of migration, so no further action is required.
However, please note that subscribers who were previously set to receive NO MAIL are now receiving mail, and subscribers who were previously set to receive mail in DIGEST MODE are also now receiving mail as messages are sent—there is no digest mode option with the new server.
If you wish to change your settings or unsubscribe please visit the eList portal at https://lists.cornell.edu/. If your email address changed and you can no longer access your old email to make these changes, please email me directly at <cth4...><mailto:<cth4...> (cth4 at cornell dot edu) and I’ll see what I can do for you.
Date: 1/10/26 7:11 am From: Christopher T. Tessaglia-Hymes <cth4...> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] ADMIN: Patience Please
Hi Everyone,
In short: I’m working on this today. Please be patient. This will get fixed. Questions: <cth4...><mailto:<cth4...>.
Since the Cornell-mandated migration to the new SimpleLists server hosting Cayugabirds-L, there have been several unexpected changes that will take some time to fix.
Many of you subscribed to Cayugabirds-L long ago, and at some point you set your subscription status to “No Mail.”
Many of you have been long-time subscribers of Cayugabirds-L and have been receiving emails in “Digest Mode.”
Both of these settings got switched to receive “All Mail” as a result of the migration.
Here are my triage tasks for today.
I have accessed the original list of subscribers and have them sorted by type of subscription.
I will be manually removing all subscribers who had their emails set to “No Mail,” since many of you no longer have access to these old email accounts and are still receiving forwarded messages from those email accounts, or these were subscribed cell phone text message accounts.
If you wish to resubscribe those email addresses at any time, you can visit http://LISTS.cornell.edu and follow the instructions to subscribe to Cayugabirds-L again.
Lastly, I will need to determine best steps to address those of you whose email addresses were set to “Digest Mode."
The new SimpleLists Server does not have a Digest feature.
Please email me directly with questions: <cth4...><mailto:<cth4...> (CTH4 AT Cornell DOT edu)
Please send questions to me directly at <cth4...> (cth4_AT_cornell.edu) and not the entire list.
Thanks and good birding!
Sincerely,
Chris T-H
Greetings
Date: January 5, 2026 at 09:34:33 EST
Subject: [cayugabirds-l] ADMIN: PLEASE READ — eList Migration
Greetings fellow birders and Happy New Year!
Cornell University eList List Manager is making major changes to their eList platform.
This eList and all Cornell University eLists will migrate away from Lyris List Manager to a new platform called Simplelists.
This eList (Cayugabirds-L) will migrate to Simplelists on or about January 6, 2026.
Once this action takes place, any new email messages you wish to send out for distribution to current subscribers will need to be sent to the new email address below:
You can also query which Simplelists eLists you are currently subscribed to by entering your email address in the “My Lists” section at the https://lists.cornell.edu/ website. After following the link provided in the resulting email message that you receive, you will be able to Pause Delivery and Unsubscribe from an eList.
Digest does not appear to be a function that is supported in Simplelists.
Many have noted a marked reduction in email chatter on this and other birding eLists. Much of the email-based birding reporting across New York State migrated away from email and other localized chat groups to the New York Birding Discord Server in January of 2024. On the new Discord Server for New York Birding, there are various regional channels for reporting and discussing bird sightings, sharing photos, links, etc.
Details on joining the New York Birding Discord Server are at this link:
> On Jan 9, 2026, at 8:11 PM, Colleen Richards <clr82...> wrote:
>
> A reminder that the Cayuga Bird Club's January meeting, "Share Your Photo Night" hosted by Kevin McGowan will be held at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology on Monday, Jan. 12 at 7:30 pm.
>
>
> Come enjoy as Club members share their photos. Although submission is limited to club members, the meeting is open to all!
>
> 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.
>
> We also have a last-minute invitation to a speaker dinner with Kevin McGowan at the Ithaca Ale House on Monday, January 12 at 5:30 pm. Please be aware that there is only on-street parking. We need to make reservations by Sunday, Jan. 11 so rsvp to <clr82...> by noon on the 11th.
>
> Colleen Richards
> On Jan 9, 2026, at 8:11 PM, Colleen Richards <clr82...> wrote:
>
> A reminder that the Cayuga Bird Club's January meeting, "Share Your Photo Night" hosted by Kevin McGowan will be held at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology on Monday, Jan. 12 at 7:30 pm.
>
>
> Come enjoy as Club members share their photos. Although submission is limited to club members, the meeting is open to all!
>
> 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.
>
> We also have a last-minute invitation to a speaker dinner with Kevin McGowan at the Ithaca Ale House on Monday, January 12 at 5:30 pm. Please be aware that there is only on-street parking. We need to make reservations by Sunday, Jan. 11 so rsvp to <clr82...> by noon on the 11th.
>
> Colleen Richards
A reminder that the Cayuga Bird Club's January meeting, "Share Your Photo Night" hosted by Kevin McGowan will be held at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology on Monday, Jan. 12 at 7:30 pm.
Come enjoy as Club members share their photos. Although submission is limited to club members, the meeting is open to all!
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.
We also have a last-minute invitation to a speaker dinner with Kevin McGowan at the Ithaca Ale House on Monday, January 12 at 5:30 pm. Please be aware that there is only on-street parking. We need to make reservations by Sunday, Jan. 11 so rsvp to <clr82...> by noon on the 11th.
Date: 1/8/26 4:41 pm From: Shelley Page <shelleypage.imagine...> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Jan 8 Thursday Birding Meetup Recap and Jan 15 Plans
Our first of the year Thursday Birding Meetup along the lower section of the Black Diamond Trail today brought out 21 eager birders. The warming temperatures, promises of blue sky and New Year's good energy infused our flock as we searched for some warblers that were reported from the Christmas Bird Count. Indeed, we joyfully encountered six yellow-rumped warblers along with other songbirds enjoying breakfast rosehips and privet berries. Woodpeckers were out in force--all the usuals minus sapsuckers. We had flyovers of a mallard, Canada geese, pigeons and starlings. But the highlight was the drama of a redtailed hawk flying and roosting briefly with its breakfast--a squirrel , followed by two redtails having a little drama together and one flying right over us letting loose with its signature call. All in all, a great start to our birding year with many "first of year" sightings. Fifteen of us enjoyed the generous and creative breakfasts at Mix. Want to join us next week? All birders are warmly welcome to bird with us. We gather at 7:30 am, bird until around 9:00 and then go out for breakfast. Those who need to head to work, class or other things can bird for a while and then leave whenever works for you. Jan 15 Plans: We head to a new place for our birding forays--Marian Hartill Park on Northwoods Dr. in Ithaca. From Ithaca, take Route 13 up past Triphammer Road. Turn left on Warren Road, then another left to Northwoods Drive. 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
This morning I not only saw a red fox running around our property, but I also caught a whiff of "fox" in the air (skunky, musky scent of their marking). That is one of the earliest signs of the changing seasons in my opinion- breeding season is underway! While I was watching the fox run through the field, I also heard a single Tufted Titmouse singing "peter-peter-peter", a very welcome sound. With the mild temperatures today, it definitely feels like spring is around the corner! Unfortunately it looks like temps will be back in the 20's and teens next week.
"The months of the year, from January up to June, are a geometric progression in the abundance of distractions. In January one may follow a skunk track, or search for bands on the chickadees, or see what young pines the deer have browsed, or what muskrat houses the mink have dug, with only an occasional and mild digression into other doings January observation can be almost as simple and peaceful as snow, and almost as continuous as cold. There is time not only to see who has done what, but to speculate why."
Date: 1/8/26 10:46 am From: Peter Saracino <petersaracino...> Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] EARLY signs of spring
And I found skunk cabbage up and growing in mid December!!!
See photo attached.
Pete Saracino
On Thu, Jan 8, 2026, 9:45 AM Alyssa Johnson <
<thebarehandednaturalist...> wrote:
> Good morning!
>
> This morning I not only saw a red fox running around our property, but I
> also caught a whiff of "fox" in the air (skunky, musky scent of their
> marking). That is one of the earliest signs of the changing seasons in my
> opinion- breeding season is underway! While I was watching the fox run
> through the field, I also heard a single Tufted Titmouse singing
> "peter-peter-peter", a very welcome sound. With the mild temperatures
> today, it definitely feels like spring is around the corner! Unfortunately
> it looks like temps will be back in the 20's and teens next week.
>
> I'll leave you all with this excerpt from A Sand County Almanac
> <https://www.thetedkarchive.com/library/aldo-leopold-a-sand-county-almanac#toc7>,
> Part I "January Thaw":
>
> "T*he months of the year, from January up to June, are a geometric
> progression in the abundance of distractions. In January one may follow a
> skunk track, or search for bands on the chickadees, or see what young pines
> the deer have browsed, or what muskrat houses the mink have dug, with only
> an occasional and mild digression into other doings January observation can
> be almost as simple and peaceful as snow, and almost as continuous as cold.
> There is time not only to see who has done what, but to speculate why.*"
>
> Have a wonderful day,
>
> Alyssa Johnson
> Searsburg, Trumansburg
>
Date: 1/8/26 9:16 am From: Sarah Katherine Wagner <skw67...> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Cornell Lab of Ornithology Volunteers Needed
Hello Cayuga Bird Club,
We have a few updates, including upcoming trainings and volunteer opportunities, that I wanted to share with everyone!
• Our group visits page<https://www.birds.cornell.edu/home/visit/group-visits/> went live just before Cornell’s winter break. It includes descriptions for each of our guided tours and information on how to book. I suspect these will pick up as school comes back in session and we share the info more widely, but for now it’s a slower roll-out of tours. As they’re booked, we’ll share signups with trained volunteers.
• Our training series for drop-in activities (formerly Exploration Stations) will take place on 2/21, 2/28, and 3/7 from 10:00-12:00. If you’re interested in helping to lead these shorter activities at the Visitor Center, please complete this form<https://forms.gle/UpnYdh37Sesy2rEL8>. If you attended the fall training on leading tours, you’re welcome to skip the first training session (2/21), but otherwise please note that attending all three sessions is required.
• We’ve started working on our Kids Discover the Trail! (KDT!) trips for the spring. If you’re not familiar with the program, the Lab welcomes almost every 5th grader in the county, and volunteers are a huge part of helping them explore birds and nature. Please see the note from Sarah below with more dates and details!
• This year we’ll be consolidating our Volunteer Appreciation events in an effort to get more of us together at once. Rather than holding separate events in January and June for folks that help with separate programs, we’ll be hosting something during National Volunteer Appreciation Week (April 19-25). I’ll share more details as that approaches.
Please reach out with any questions! If you’re no longer available/ interested in volunteering and would like to be removed from this list, just let me know.
Best,
Peter
Hello all,
We have started planning for Kids Discover the Trail! (KDT!). Our field trips have been a huge hit, thanks in large part to many of you! For those of you who have volunteered in the past I hope you will join us again. If you are interested in joining the KDT! ranks please let me know!
What is required of KDT volunteers?
• January: Please confirm if you plan to volunteer this year.
• February-March: Sign volunteer forms, undergo a background check (for working with minors), get assigned a Cornell NetID, take a short online CU Learn course.
• April: Attend volunteer training and sign up for program dates.
o Attend 3 Monday morning training sessions in April (4/6, 4/13/, 4/20) for a couple of hours. If you attended the first day of the Tours Training, you can skip the first session.
o Practice biodiversity walk and afternoon rotations and shadow peer walks on Monday, 4/27.
• May: Help run programs! We expect ~20 program dates between May 4 – June 6 (exact dates TBA). Volunteer shifts are 9:00 am – 1:00 pm, for as many programs as you choose to sign up for, although we do request a minimum of 5 sign ups. New volunteers shadow / assist for their first two programs.
If you know of other people who might like to volunteer, please feel free to pass this on! As always, your help is what makes these programs possible. Please reach out with any questions or concerns – and most importantly, please let me (<skw67...><mailto:<skw67...>) know if you can volunteer this year no later than February 3.
Thanks so much and I look forward to hearing from you,
Date: 1/8/26 6:44 am From: Alyssa Johnson <thebarehandednaturalist...> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] EARLY signs of spring
Good morning!
This morning I not only saw a red fox running around our property, but I also caught a whiff of "fox" in the air (skunky, musky scent of their marking). That is one of the earliest signs of the changing seasons in my opinion- breeding season is underway! While I was watching the fox run through the field, I also heard a single Tufted Titmouse singing "peter-peter-peter", a very welcome sound. With the mild temperatures today, it definitely feels like spring is around the corner! Unfortunately it looks like temps will be back in the 20's and teens next week.
"T*he months of the year, from January up to June, are a geometric progression in the abundance of distractions. In January one may follow a skunk track, or search for bands on the chickadees, or see what young pines the deer have browsed, or what muskrat houses the mink have dug, with only an occasional and mild digression into other doings January observation can be almost as simple and peaceful as snow, and almost as continuous as cold. There is time not only to see who has done what, but to speculate why.*"
Date: 1/5/26 7:52 am From: Tracy McLellan <trcymclellan...> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Gardening for Birds program
Steve Kress will be presenting a program on gardening for Birds next
Tuesday Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County, 615 Willow Ave,
Ithaca. Remote option also available. See announcement below.
Native Plant Gardening: Gardening for Birds
- Tuesday, January 13, 2026, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Gardening for Birds shares some of the interactions between birds and
native plants and provides ideas for improving properties of all sizes for
birds. Stephen lives with his wife Elissa on a 40-acre rural property at
the edge of Ithaca where he tests techniques for improving gardens and
landscapes for birds. This presentation is hybrid, you may attend in person
or virtually and it will be recorded with materials sent to all who
register.
Instructor's bio: Stephen Kress is a visiting fellow of the Cornell
Laboratory of Ornithology and founder of Audubon’s Project Puffin. He has a
lifelong interest in creating habitats for landbirds with a focus on native
plants that benefit birds and pollinators. He received his undergraduate
and Master’s degrees in Wildlife Management from Ohio State University and
his Ph.D. in Environmental Education from Cornell. Among his many books on
birding and backyard wildlife management, he is author of The Bird Garden.
Fee
This program is valued at $20, however, please pay what you are able.
Paying more than $20 will help others attend the class.
Register
Date: 1/5/26 6:34 am From: Chris Tessaglia-Hymes <cth4...> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] ADMIN: PLEASE READ eList Migration
Greetings fellow birders and Happy New Year! Cornell University eList List Manager is making major changes to their eList platform. This eList and all Cornell University eLists will migrate away from Lyris List Manager to a new platform called Simplelists. This eList (Cayugabirds-L) will migrate to Simplelists on or about January 6, 2026. Once this action takes place, any new email messages you wish to send out for distribution to current subscribers will need to be sent to the new email address below:
<Cayugabirds-L...>
(Please note that the word LISTS is plural with the additional S. The email address is not case-sensitive) Simplelists has minimal settings that can be changed by a Subscriber or an Admin. Settings for Subscribers are currently restricted to Subscribing (Joining) or Unsubscribing (Leaving), and those both happen through this website:
You can also query which Simplelists eLists you are currently subscribed to by entering your email address in the My Lists section at the https://lists.cornell.edu/ website. After following the link provided in the resulting email message that you receive, you will be able to Pause Delivery and Unsubscribe from an eList. Digest does not appear to be a function that is supported in Simplelists. Many have noted a marked reduction in email chatter on this and other birding eLists. Much of the email-based birding reporting across New York State migrated away from email and other localized chat groups to the New York Birding Discord Server in January of 2024. On the new Discord Server for New York Birding, there are various regional channels for reporting and discussing bird sightings, sharing photos, links, etc. Details on joining the New York Birding Discord Server are at this link:
Date: 1/4/26 10:45 am From: Jody Enck <jodyenck...> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Dreaming of birds in warm places
Hi All,
Just a reminder that the Cayuga Bird Club has organized a birding trip for this coming July to mainland Ecuador (Mindo area, visiting reserves at several elevations from <1,000 feet to over 11,000 feet to increase the diversity of birds we can observe) and to the Galapagos Islands. We have several spots still open, and we need one more person to sign up to make it a guaranteed "GO". Deadline is fast approaching. Please share with your friends and neighbors. Anyone can take part (don't need to be a member of the Cayuga Bird Club).
Date: 1/4/26 9:41 am From: Suan Yong <suan.yong...> Subject: Re:[cayugabirds-l] Share your Photos Night, Monday, January 12, 2026
The share your photos night is Monday, January 12, not 13 as I previously announced. Sorry about that.
Suan
> On Dec 31, 2025, at 7:00 PM, Suan Hsi Yong <suan.yong...> wrote:
>
> On Monday, January 13, 2026, Kevin McGowan will once again host the
> Cayuga Bird Club’s annual “Share Your Photos Night.”
>
> Cayuga Bird Club members can share a maximum of five photos during the
> 3 minutes you will have to take the stage. Send them by January 7 to
> Kevin at <kjm2...> The Subject Line on the email MUST BE “Bird
> club photo submission Jan2026.” Kevin will send an acknowledgement
> when he receives them. IF you do not get an acknowledgement, contact
> Kevin again WELL before the meeting date. Remember, you must attend
> the meeting at the Lab of Ornithology to show your photos. Don’t be
> shy! Share! The meeting will be recorded and posted online; if you
> wish to be excluded from this recording, let Kevin know as well.
>
> Although submission is limited to club members, the meeting is open to all!
>
> Doors open 6:45pm for social time; club business begins at 7:30pm,
> followed by the presentations starting around 8:00pm.
>
> Suan
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Date: 1/4/26 8:54 am From: Christopher T. Tessaglia-Hymes <cth4...> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] ADMIN: PLEASE READ — eList Migration
Greetings fellow birders and Happy New Year!
Cornell University eList List Manager is making major changes to their eList platform.
This eList and all Cornell University eLists will migrate away from Lyris List Manager to a new platform called Simplelists.
This eList (Cayugabirds-L) will migrate to Simplelists on or about January 6, 2026.
Once this action takes place, any new email messages you wish to send out for distribution to current subscribers will need to be sent to the new email address below:
You can also query which Simplelists eLists you are currently subscribed to by entering your email address in the “My Lists” section at the <https://lists.cornell.edu/>https://lists.cornell.edu/ website. After following the link provided in the resulting email message that you receive, you will be able to Pause Delivery and Unsubscribe from an eList.
Digest does not appear to be a function that is supported in Simplelists.
Many have noted a marked reduction in email chatter on this and other birding eLists. Much of the email-based birding reporting across New York State migrated away from email and other localized chat groups to the New York Birding Discord Server in January of 2024. On the new Discord Server for New York Birding, there are various regional channels for reporting and discussing bird sightings, sharing photos, links, etc.
Details on joining the New York Birding Discord Server are at this link:
Date: 1/3/26 3:10 pm From: Barbara B. Eden <beb1...> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Bird bath heater?
I am looking for advice on the possible purchase of a heater for my outdoor bird bath. Does it make sense , or shall I just fill it with heated water on a daily basis.
Thanks for any and all tips
Best,
Barbara Eden
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Is more birding one of your goals for 2026? Let us help! Every Thursday morning, all birders are warmly invited to gather with us at 7:30 for the Thursday Birding Meetup. We bird until around 9:00 and then go out for breakfast. If your morning schedule includes work, class or other activities, bird with us just for a while and carry on with your day. We would love to have you join us either way. Watch this space, Insta, Cayuga Bird Club list serv and calendar for weekly updates about where the Thursday Birding Meetup will gather. Plans for Jan 8: Inspired by some intriguing sightings at the Christmas Bird Count on Jan 1, we will bird along the lower section of the Black Diamond Trail. Meet at the Ithaca Children's Garden parking lot. From Ithaca, go north on Rt 89 (Taughannock Boulevard), turn left on to Turtle Lane and then right into the parking lot. (The weather forecast indicates a mid-week thaw so it will not be as chilly as some of our winter outings. Come out and bird with 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
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At about 3 pm on a chilly walk along Rumsey Road in Trumansburg (Schuyler County), a female Merlin flew across the field from the east and landed on the top of a utility pole right in front of me. What a thrill! She sat there for a few minutes while I admired her, then flew back to the east. Great start to my year list.
Annette Nadeau Trumansburg, NY
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