The roughly 50,000-acre Montezuma Wetlands Complex in Central New York is a globally significant Important Bird Area situated at the outlet of Cayuga Lake, and consists of the National Montezuma Wildlife Refuge, the State’s Northern Montezuma Wildlife Management Area, and lands owned by The Nature Conservancy and other private parties.
The complex sits in the middle of one of the busiest bird migration routes on the Atlantic Flyway and receives spring and fall migrations that number in the millions of birds.
More than 240 species of birds can be found in the complex, along with 43 species of mammals, 15 species of reptiles, and 16 species of amphibians.
The most common waterfowl species that will benefit from this work include mallards, American black duck, American wigeon, wood duck and green-winged teal. These sites will also provide crucial nesting and foraging habitat for rare species such as pied-billed grebe, black tern, and American bittern.
The New York Power Authority, New York State Canal Corporation, and DEC recently completed of a project that enhanced approximately 180 acres at the Montezuma Wetlands Complex.
The project, originally announced in 2021, was inspired by a report prepared by The Nature Conservancy on wetland initiatives and focused on increasing connectivity within the wetlands by creating new channels for water to flow — and:
helped re-connect the Seneca River to its floodplain;
enhanced habitat for dozens of wildlife species;
greatly expanded opportunities for nature-based recreation; and
included invasive species control and re-introducing native plant species.
Check out a video about Northern Montezuma Wildlife Management Area.
Photo: Northern Montezuma Wildlife Management Area (provided by DEC).
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