Greater Niagara Segment of NYS Birding Trail Now Open  The Greater Niagara segment of the NYS Birding Trail is now open and is the second region of the trail completed. The Greater Niagara segment of the trail includes 36 locations throughout Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans, and Wyoming counties.
From the awe-inspiring Niagara River Corridor, which is part of a designated globally important migratory bird area designated by the National Audubon Society, to Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve's 292-acres of forests, ponds, and wetlands, the Greater Niagara region offers multiple opportunities to observe migratory birds. In the summer and fall, take the Discover Niagara shuttle to Fort Niagara State Park, Stella Niagara Preserve, Art Park, and multiple locations along the Niagara River Corridor. Visit Tifft Nature Preserve and Buffalo Outer Harbor State Park on the southern tip of the Niagara River to take in views of Lake Erie and observe over 200 bird species. Knox Farm State Park is a premier destination for grassland birds and hosts a display of bluebird boxes. Learn more and start planning your adventure. Stay tuned for future announcements on the birding trail.
Learn More About Wildlife with DEC's Facebook Live Videos DEC's wildlife and education staff regularly host Facebook Live sessions on a variety of wildlife-related topics. Check out these recent videos: Head to DEC's Facebook page to watch more educational videos.
Help Keep Wildlife Safe While Viewing  There's still time to get outdoors and observe birds that spend their winters in New York, like snowy owls. Unfortunately, some birders, in their enthusiasm to photograph the birds up close, may approach the birds and flush them—cause them to fly. This can deplete the birds' energy reserves, and in extreme cases, can cause death. It is better to observe wildlife in a manner that is safe for both you and wildlife.
Some ways to respect wildlife and others around you: - View wildlife from a distance using binoculars.
- Stay on trails.
- Only enter private property if you have permission.
- Park in designated spots or completely off the road, out of travel lanes.
Check out more wildlife watching tips.
NOAA Fisheries Sea Turtle Bycatch Measures for Trawl Fisheries  NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Fisheries has been evaluating, investigating, and addressing bycatch of sea turtles, focusing specifically on investigating gear modifications on trawl fisheries to reduce mortality of sea turtles accidentally caught in fishing gear. The following measures are being considered, and feedback on all potential options is encouraged:
- Requiring Turtle Exclusion Devices (TEDs) with a large escape opening in trawls that target Atlantic croaker, weakfish, and longfin squid to reduce injury and mortality resulting from accidental capture in these fisheries;
- Moving the northern boundary of the TED requirements in the summer flounder fishery (i.e., the Summer Flounder Fishery-Sea Turtle Protection Area) to a point farther north to better address capture in this fishery;
- Amending the TED requirements for the summer flounder fishery to require a larger escape opening to allow the release of leatherback and larger hard-shelled sea turtles;
- Adding an option allowing documented limited tow durations, if feasible and enforceable, in lieu of TEDs in these fisheries to provide flexibility to the fisheries.
NOAA Fisheries is seeking feedback on mitigation measures plus operational and economic considerations. Written comments and feedback will be accepted until May 31, 2022 and can be emailed to NOAA. |
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