55+ Living Guide Winter 2018 Winter 2018 55+ issue for Joomag | Page 21

Merlin
Photo by Alan Peterson
Hairy Woodpecker
Black Crowned Night Heron
Photo by Sandy Cutting
Photo by Jorja Feldman
Pine Siskin
Photo by Richard Miller
Some of our favorite winter birding locations are local ibas because they can offer spectacular opportunities that
otherwise wouldn't be possible. Below are four to get you started, but for information on all of our local ibas,
including bird lists, visit ny.audubon.org/iba.
Fort Edward
Grasslands– iba
Located in Washington
County and well-known
for its wintering population
of raptors, this vast 13,000
acre agricultural area offers
exceptional grassland bird
breeding and wintering.
Last December, Short-eared
Owls, a NY endangered
species, were especially
prevalent in Fort Edward
and could be seen from the
roadway rising from their
ground roosts, making it
possible to bird from the
car. Northern Harriers,
which are threatened in NY,
can often be seen hunting
in these fields, especially
when snowfall doesn’t com-
pletely blanket the ground.
Other winter species include
Snow Bunting; Horned
Lark, a NY high priority
species of greatest conserva-
tion need; Northern Shrike;
as well as the rare Snowy
Owl; Peregrine Falcon, a NY
endangered species; Barred
Owl; Merlin and Bald Eagle.
Year round species include
Rough-legged Hawks,
Red-tailed Hawks and more.
Vischer Ferry Nature
and Historic Preserve
–iba
Popular with birders
because of its easily
observed marshes and
ponds, this 600 acre
preserve is located in
Saratoga County, along
the northern edge of
the Mohawk River. An
important stopover site
for migrating birds, in
the fall, this area supports
significant concentrations
of wading birds such
as herons and egrets.
Common winter species
include Mallard, Ring-
billed Gull, Downy
Woodpecker, Hairy
Woodpecker, and White-
breasted Nuthatch, while
the Northern Shrike,
Northern Flicker, Barred
Owl, Bald Eagle, Cooper’s
Hawk, and two New
York species of greatest
conservation need, the
Red-shouldered Hawk
and Black-crowned Night
Heron, are observed
with less regularity.
Albany Pine Bush
Preserve– iba Rensselaer Forest
Tract– iba
Located in Albany County,
this 3,200 acre preserve
is one of only 20 inland
pine barrens left in the
entire world. With more
than 55 New York State-
designated species of
greatest conservation need
calling it home, including
a suite of birds classified
as at-risk by Audubon,
the preserve’s globally-
rare eco system offers
easily accessible trails and
prime habitat for birding
and is complimented by a
host of walks and public
programs throughout the
year. Winter birders will
be treated to many species
including Rough-legged
Hawk, Northern Shrike,
Golden-crowned Kinglet,
Snow Bunting, Pine Siskin
and Common Redpoll. A large and relatively
unfragmented forest
situated in the center of
Rensselaer County on the
Rensselaer Plateau, this
IBA offers 100,000 acres of
abundant wetlands, bogs
and abundant conifers
and hardwoods. The site
supports a great abundance
and diversity of forest
breeders, including many
at-risk species. Adventurous
winter birders can find
a variety of species here
including, Red-breasted
Nuthatch, Brown Creeper,
Golden-crowned Kinglet,
Black-capped Chickadee,
Hairy, Downy and Pileated
Woodpeckers, Barred Owls,
and the more sporadic Pine
Siskin, Common Redpolls
and Red and White-winged
Crossbills.
To take up birding, you’ll only need a few things:
binoculars, a notebook, a field list, bird guide,
warm winter layers, and an adventurous spirit.

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