USABirdSupply.com Wild Bird Supplies

By Christine A. Smyczynski

There is nothing sadder than hearing a thud against your window and heading outside to investigate, only to find an injured or dead bird lying beneath your window. Birds crash into windows mainly because they can’t tell it is a solid barrier because of the reflection or they think they see another bird (their reflection) invading their territory and go to attack it. Sadly, over half of all birds who fly into windows die. This is especially common during the spring and fall migrations.

USA Bird Supply www.usabirdsupply.com sells a number of products that can help deter birds from flying into your windows. Window Alert ($5.59) features 4 static cling decals which are specially coated to reflect ultraviolet sunlight to alert birds not to fly into the window. This light is invisible to humans, but to birds it is like a stop sign. The decals are placed on the outside of the window. Window Alert comes in five designs to choose from: hummingbird, butterfly, leaf, snowflake, or square.

USA Bird Supply also sells Cardinal Alert ($7.29) a 48” x 6” static cling decal strip that is designed to eliminate a bird’s reflection along the bottom of the window. Territorial birds, such as robins or cardinals, will attack their own reflections in windows to defend their territory, often injuring themselves. Cardinal Alert, placed on exterior class windows, prevents birds from injuring themselves. You just simply apply them to clean windows, alone or in groups. Since the UV coating fades over time, the decals should be replaced yearly.

By Christine A. Smyczynski

In surfing the web for information about birds, I came across an interesting site put together by the Canisius College Ambassadors for Conservation (www.conservenature.org). Most of these students are in the school’s biology department.

The site is not too wordy, yet well written and has simple straight-forward descriptions of birds and other critters. It would be a good resource for beginner birders as well as students doing research projects. In addition to written descriptions, there are also photos.

Some of the more interesting birds described on the site include the Blue Footed Booby from South America, a strange looking bird indeed! This bird has blue webbed feet. Look under the “Busy Bills” section and you’ll see some unusual birds, like the Violet Sabrewing Hummingbird, with its long and slender bill that fits perfectly into the flowers it feeds on.

Nocturnal birds on the site include the African Wood Owl that can soar silently in the night. Birds with unique eggs include Killdeer eggs, which resemble rocks to disguise them from predators or the Kiwi Bird eggs, which weigh ¼ of a Kiwi Bird’s body weight.

One of the nests described include a Brush Turkey nest. This bird builds a mound nest out of soil to incubate the eggs.

Nocturnal birds on the site include the African Wood Owl that can soar silently in the night. Birds with unique eggs include Killdeer eggs, which resemble rocks to disguise them from predators or the Kiwi Bird eggs, which weigh ¼ of a Kiwi Bird’s body weight.

One of the nests described include a Brush Turkey nest. This bird builds a mound nest out of soil to incubate the eggs.

By Christine A. Smyczynski

Show pride for the USA this Memorial Day and July 4th with patriotic items from USA Bird Supply.  From now until May 31st you can get 15% off these items (online only) by typing in the code USAPRIDE when you place your order.

Of course, the most obvious patriotic décor item is an American flag. USA Bird Supply has a number in stock. Choose from a 3 ‘x 5’ poly cotton flag ($8.95), a 2’x 3’ classroom flag ($6.95), a heavy-duty 3’x 5’ poly II tear-guard American flag ($29.95) or a 3’ x 5’ nylon flag ($19.95).

If you want something smaller, perhaps something for decorating a veteran’s grave, choose a 4″x 6” American stick flag ($.49), a 12”x 18” official veteran memorial marker flag ($1.75), a 4-pack of 4”x 6” American stick flags ($1.79 for the pack) or an 8”x 12” stick flag ($.99).

USA Bird Supply also carries several patriotic-themed Americana items, including an American wooden bird house ($17.99) made by Evergreen, which feature red and white stripes adorned with a large red star on the front. Another birdhouse, also by Evergreen, features red and white stripes on the bottom and a blue roof with white stars. This birdhouse also retails for $17.99. (Note: it is temporarily out of stock)

Custom Décor makes a Barn Star Americana garden flag in two sizes 12” x 18” ($8.99) and a larger one that measures 28” x 40” ($17.99). The design features a star with a flag motif set on a beige and red background.

By Christine A. Smyczynski

Wild Wings is a not for profit organization that houses and cares for birds of prey that have been permanently injured and unable to survive on their own in the wild. This organization, which was incorporated in 1995, is based in Mendon Ponds Park in Honeoye Falls, which is south of Rochester.

Their mission as a wild bird sanctuary is to foster awareness of the natural world, and teach environmental programs to school, Scouts, and other groups. These programs are on-site, as well as traveling demonstrations. They actually offer educational programs at the park daily from 10am-2pm, Friday through Tuesday.

Wild wings also has a nature store, The Cottage Store, that sells a number of nature-themed items, like ornaments, t-shirts, jewelry, wildlife books, clothing, collectibles, and more.

Wild Wings has about 2 dozen birds that they are taking care of, along with Tara, the bobcat. The raptor residents include eagles, hawks, falcons, vultures, and owls; all of them have some sort of injury that would not allow them to be released back into the wild.

Mendon Ponds Park, where Wild Wings is based, is also very popular with birders. The 2,500 acre park, which is a designated National Natural Historic Landmark, offers people the opportunity to enjoy nature and see waterfowl, nesting birds, hawks, bluebirds, woodpeckers, and wild turkey. The blue bird houses located on the filed south of wild wings attracts a large number of blue birds. Many people enjoy buying bird seed at the cottage store so that they can hand feed the chickadees.

Wild Wings, Inc., 27 Pond Road, Honeoye Falls, 585-334-7790,  www.wildwingsinc.org

By Christine A. Smyczynski

Today’s blog  takes you to several nature preserves and wildlife management areas located in rural Allegany County, probably one of the least developed counties in western New York. These nature areas are also, for the most part, mainly undeveloped, meaning that there are no amenities, like restrooms, visitor’s centers, and picnic areas. Most of the areas mentioned here are under the jurisdiction of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) which can be contacted at 585-268-5392.

The Hanging Bog Wildlife Management Area is a 4,500 acre wildlife area that features hiking trails, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in winter, camping, hunting, fishing, and trapping. It is located near NY 305 and New Hudson Road (exit 28 off I-86).

A great place for bird watching is the Keaney Swamp Wildlife Management Area, a 708 acre wetland that has Black Creek running through it. It is located about six miles south of Canaseraga off Rt. 15B (Jersey Hill Road) and CR 15A (Fink Hollow Road).

The Moss Lake Nature Sanctuary is an 81-acre kettle-hole bog surrounded by upland forest and oil fields. This area has nature trails and picnic tables and it is a popular place to bird watch. Locals suggest that you bring along some stale bread to feed the catfish in the pond. Moss Lake is located on And Hill Road, off NY 19, Caneadea, 585-546-8030.

Also in this region is the Rattlesnake Hill Wildlife Management Area, which is located in both Allegany and Livingston Counties, about 8 miles west of Dansville. This 5,100 acre area is popular for bird watching, horseback riding, hiking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, as well as hunting and fishing. Besides birds and other wildlife, it’s been reported that there are indeed some rattlesnakes in the more remote areas of the preserve. It is located off NY 436 and CR 9, Dansville, 585-226-2466.

By Christine A. Smyczynski

You like to bird watch and keep track of all the birds you see. Now you can keep a record of that information electronically and contribute important information to databases of bird records that can be sued by researchers. Two of these databases were mentioned in a recent issue of New York State Conservationist Magazine.

NY eBird (www.ebird.org/ny) is a joint project of the New York State Ornithological Association and Audubon New York that was launched in 2002. It is a real-time online checklist that records information submitted by professional and recreational bird watchers. It is one of the largest databases of its kind in existence.  The database documents the presence or absence of species, as well as the number of birds seen. A birder will simply enter where, when, and how long they went birding and list all the birds that they saw and heard. Don’t forget your binoculars and New York Birding Guide.

Another online database is Nestwatch (http://watch.birds.cornell.edu/nest/home/index) which is run by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Birdwatchers can collect information on nest sites, habitat, species, number of eggs, etc for North American breeding birds. The aim of this project is to track reproductive success of breeding birds. It is funded by the National Science Foundation and it is part of the Smithsonian Migrating Bird Project.

By Christine A. Smyczynski

What better place to bird watch and/or enjoy nature than a park. In the Buffalo area we are blessed with a beautiful park system designed by the renowned landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmsted, who is considered the Father of Landscape Architecture. This 1,200 acre urban park system is considered Olmsted’s best work.

The system, which was designed by Olmsted in 1868, consists of six major parks, Cazenovia, Delaware, Front, Martin Luther King Jr., Riverside, and South Park, along with several connecting parkways and seven circles.

Olmsted designed the park system not only to offer beautiful scenery but to offer people a place for recreation, especially important in an industrial city like Buffalo. The Buffalo park system is unique in that it is the largest body of Olmsted’s work and the first of its kind in the nation. Olmsted also designed New York’s Central Park.

The park is managed and maintained by the non-profit Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy, which works with the city and community to ensure that the parks are preserved and taken care of. The conservancy sponsors a variety of events throughout the year, including workshops, cleanups and concerts.

An upcoming event is Beginning Bird Watching, which will take place at Riverside Park on May 28 from 10am-noon. Audubon volunteers will be on hand to show beginning birders how to use binoculars, field guides, and other tools of the trade. This is a free event.

Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy, Parkside Lodge, 84 Parkside Ave., Buffalo, 716-838-1249,  www.bfloparks.org

By Christine A. Smyczynski

The Bergen Swamp, located in northern Genesee County in the town of Byron, is one of 600 National Natural Landmarks in the United States. However, it has the distinction of being the very first site that was given that recognition back in 1964. The swamp is managed by the Bergen Swamp Preservation Society, which also manages several other natural areas in the Rochester area, including Taylor Marsh, near Honeoye Lake, Zurich Bog, located east of Rochester, the Slater Preserve near Dansville, and the Hotchkiss Preserve in Lyons.

The 1,900 acre Bergen Swamp is actually a marl bog. Here you’ll find many plants that can’t grow in acidic bogs. Many rare plants and animals can be found in the swamp’s habitat, which has been unchanged for 125,000 years. There are over 2,500 species of plants found here. The swamp is also home to the Eastern Massasauga (Pygmy) Rattlesnake, which is very rare in western New York.

The trails are often rugged and uneven and are usually wet, so visitors should wear waterproof boots. Groups larger than six people must obtain written permission before visiting any of the properties.

The Bergen Swamp Preservation Society offers a number of events throughout the year; these are outlined on the organizations webpage. Of special interest to birders is a Birding Field Trip to the swamp on June 4 at 7:30am. The field trip, which is sponsored by the Rochester Birding Association, will be led by Jay Greenberg. No reservations are required.

Bergen Swamp, 6646 Hessenthaler Road, Byron, 585-548-7304, www.bergenswamp.org

By Christine A. Smyczynski

Today’s blog revisits Braddock Bay State Fish and Wildlife Management Area, an area that was mentioned briefly in my series about birding along the Seaway Trail, which I blogged about several months ago. Braddock Bay State Fish and Wildlife Area, a 2,402 acre nature area located west of Rochester on Lake Ontario, is considered a migration “hot spot,” as millions of birds travel through this area during spring migration. There are about 130 species of songbirds during migration, as well as a large number of hawks and raptors.

Every year, from March through May, a hawk count is conducted at Braddock Bay. Since 1986, Braddock Bay Raptor Research (www.bbrr.org) a non-profit organization has focused on research and educational activities relating to raptor migration. During this March to May time frame, raptor banding operations take place, along with owl banding. One of the hawk banding stations, the Kaiser-Manitou banding Station, is open to the public so that people can see the process and watch the tagging of these birds. It is the only hawk banding station in the country open to the public.

Another non-profit organization, Braddock Bay Bird Observatory (www.bbbo.org) is dedicated to research, conservation, and bird education. Members of this all volunteer organization staff the banding station. They also publish a newsletter, The Marsh Wren, which is posted online.

The spring banding station is scheduled to open April 16. Other upcoming events at Braddock Bay include “Birds of Prey Days” on April 16 and 17, Cornell’s Spring Field Ornithology on Saturday April 30 and Sunday May 1, and an open house on Saturday May 14 to celebrate International Migratory Bird Day.

Braddock Bay Fish & Wildlife Management Area, 199 East Manitou Road, Rochester (Hilton)

By Christine A. Smyczynski

Today’s blog takes us down to an interesting natural area in Chautauqua County. Panama Rocks is a privately-owned park located about seven miles south of Chautauqua Lake. It is the largest outcropping of glacier-sculpted quartz conglomerate rock in the world.

About 300 million years ago, these rocks were sea islands, part of an ancient river delta. Eventually, thousands of feet of sediment built up over the sea islands and the rock was compressed, forming quartz conglomerate. During the last Ice Age, about 10,000 million years ago, a glacier covered this area; after it melted thousands of crevices and passageways were left.

Panama Rocks got its name from a gentleman who had been across the Isthmus of Panama, who said that these rocks reminded him of rocks in the Central American country. Later, the nearby village was named Panama, after the rocks, since the rocks were here long before the village.

Panama Rocks was first opened as a public park in 1885 by George Hubbard. It was later purchased by D.L. Davis in 1910, who added stairways down into some of the dens and crevices, and a dining hall, where chicken dinners were served on Sunday. During the last century, there were multiple owners who operated the park.

Panama Rocks is made up of a ½ mile ridge of rocks that is about 50 yards wide. A one mile long trail circles the ridge. The lower portion of the trail has more dramatic scenery. It’s also where all the crevices and dens, which are fun to explore, are located. It’s a bit more dangerous to walk on the upper portion, especially if you have young children in tow. As with any rock park, Panama Rocks is not stroller or handicap accessible.

While you could walk the trail in 20 minutes, most people take at least 1 ½ hours or more to explore the park. Visitors are encouraged to venture off the trail to explore and climb the formations. October is a popular time to visit because there are so many different trees, with a lot of different shades of fall foliage.” Some of the Hemlock trees in the park are 200-250 years old; however they grow slowly because of the poor soil.

Panama Rocks 716-782-2845, www.panamarocks.com 11 Rock Hill Rd. (CR 10), PO Box 176, Panama, NY. Open daily 10-5, mid-May to late October; they are open May 14-Oct. 16 in 2011. Admission is $7/adult $6/youth and seniors ages 60+ and $5 ages 6-12.

Take the I-90 to Westfield (EXIT 60). Turn left on NY 394. About 2-3 miles south of Mayville, turn right on County Route 33. Go south to Panama on County Route 33 (10 miles). In Panama you will come to a flashing light. Turn right at the light, onto NY 474 West. Go less than 1/4 mile. Turn left onto Rt. 10 West. Drive up the hill, and turn left at the park entrance.