A pair of Hooded Mergansers skate their way across Sapsucker Woods Pond. Adult males are black above, with a white breast and rich chestnut flanks. The black head has a large white patch that varies in size when the crest is raised or lowered, but it is always prominent. Females and immatures are gray and brown, with warm tawny-cinnamon tones on the head.
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Sapsucker Woods Sanctuary earned its name 100 years ago when the first nesting pair of Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers in the Cayuga Basin were discovered here by Lab founder Arthur A. Allen and noted avian artist Louis Agassiz Fuertes. Since that fateful discovery in 1909, it has become the home of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and a center of discovery for over 100,000 annual visitors. Over 200 species of bird can be seen here, including rarities like American Bittern, Scarlet Tanager, and many of the beautiful warblers that migrate here to breed. In addition, numerous turtles and frogs can be seen around the pond, and healthy populations of deer, squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits, and mink are also frequently encountered. The special status of Sapsucker Woods has been recognized by the Tompkins County Environmental Management Council, designating it a Unique Natural Area.
Sapsucker Woods also hosts the expansive Johnson Visitors’ Center, containing state-of-the-art multimedia exhibits that let you explore the world of birds through sound and video, a stunning collection of avian artwork (including the nation’s largest collection of Fuertes artwork on display), and a two-story glassed-in observatory for viewing the sanctuary and its inhabitants.
Hooded Mergansers Skate Across Sapsucker Woods Pond – Nov. 14, 2018 | |
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| Pets & Animals | Upload TimePublished on 14 Nov 2018 |
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