Wildlife, Fish, & Marine Life Newsletter

Birders and Photographers: DEC Needs Your Help Finding Marked Brant

Last year, DEC kicked-off a five-year Atlantic brant migration and breeding ecology study with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the Canadian Wildlife Service. Crews began marking brant with geolocators attached to red and white plastic-colored leg bands, which have a three-digit code of letters and numbers on them (left photo). The geolocators themselves are clear, plastic electronics about the size of a "fat nickel" and have a plastic cable lock tie. In addition, crews will begin marking brant with two smaller colored leg bands, one on each leg. These bands will consist of one letter or number on a white background (right photo). Some birds also have GPS transmitters on their backs (middle photo).
 
How can you help? Sightings and/or photographs of color bands and birds with transmitters are very helpful to the study. 

• If you see a brant with either type of colored leg band, please report the observation to the Patuxent Bird Banding Laboratory website. When you complete the report, the bird banding lab will e-mail you a certificate of appreciation for your time and assistance. 
• If you see a bird with a transmitter on its back, but no color leg bands, please e-mail us to report your observation. Pictures of the bird would be greatly appreciated.

Eastern Parcel at Washington County Grasslands Wildlife Management Area Closed for the Winter

DEC reminds visitors to the Washington County Grasslands Wildlife Management Area (WMA) that the parcel east of Fitzpatrick Lane is closed each year from December 1 to April 15 to protect wintering raptors. The trail and the viewing platform on the parcel remain open to visitors, but the remainder of the parcel is closed to visitation. The parcel west of Fitzpatrick Lane remains open for hunting, bird watching and other activities. View this map of the area (PDF) for details.

Short-eared owls, a New York State endangered species, and other raptors spend the winter at the WMA. Wintering raptors spend much of their time roosting to conserve energy. Unlike most raptors, short-eared owls roost on the ground in taller grasses. They are easily disturbed by people walking near their roosting sites. This can cause them to unnecessarily expend energy flying or to abandon their roost site.

Please stay out of the closed area to avoid stressing the owls and raptors. You can help further by following these tips while watching and photographing wildlife.

DEC Releases Video of Grasse River Mussel Relocation Project

To remove polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from river sediments, a seven-mile stretch of the lower Grasse River in northern New York will be dredged and capped starting next year. These actions will significantly reduce the exposure of PCBs to fish, wildlife, and ultimately the people who live along the shores or recreate on the river. Before dredging begins, DEC is collecting mussels from the river bottom and temporarily placing them in areas that won’t be subject to capping or dredging. Once the remedy is completed, these freshwater mussels will be used to establish founder colonies to speed up the recovery of this important fish and wildlife resource. The New York State Museum, Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, and SUNY Cobleskill are collaborating with DEC on the project. To find out more about this project, check out the recently released DEC YouTube video.

DEC to Discuss Managing Wildlife on Deer Creek Marsh Wildlife Management Area

DEC will host an open house to share details about a recently completed habitat management plan for Deer Creek Marsh Wildlife Management Area:

Tuesday, January 22, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Oswego County Federal Credit Union
5828 Scenic Avenue
Mexico, NY 13114

DEC staff will be available for questions from 6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., followed by a formal presentation at 6:30 p.m. Stop by and learn how DEC plans to manage wildlife habitat at this property. The meeting facility is wheelchair accessible. Please contact Adam Perry at 607- 753-3095 x240 with any specific requests for accommodations.

View recreational activities available at Deer Creek Marsh Wildlife on DEC's website.