Morning at Sunshine Pond
On May, 21 2011, I participated in the Audubon Society, Onondaga Chapter’s Birdathon, a competition to observe as many bird species as possible within a single 24-hour period. For the second year in a row, I bushwhacked through the Pepperbox Wilderness even though last year was less than a complete success.
Unlike last year, the weather was a major improvement until afternoon thundershowers past through the area. Unfortunately, just like last year I had to abandon my planned route due to time and inclement weather. Luckily, this year did not result in the significant failure of any of my equipment during the race to beat the setting sun.
Below you can find a table with the results of my bushwhacking adventure through the Pepperbox Wilderness during the 2011 Birdathon. Included are all the species detected during the two years of the Birdathon in this wilderness area located in the northwestern Adirondacks. The method of detection (i.e. visual or aural) for those species detected this year and indication of year of detection (i.e. 2011 and 2010) are provided as well.
The highlight of this year was the sighting of two gray jays at a partially drained beaver pond along the Deer Pond outlet stream. This old pond was very productive, yielding many unique species such as the osprey, great blue heron and savannah sparrow.
Birdathon Results through the years 2011-1998
This year’s Birdathon was only marginally better than last year, with a total of 51 species compared to 49. This was the third worst year out of the six years I have participated in the Birdathon. The following bar graph compares the final number of bird species of the six years I have participated.
The strategy of the previous years’ Birdathons fell into three different categories.
The first year of participation back in 1998 started at an old farm in southern Oneida County and ended at Raven Lake along the border of the Pepperbox and Five Ponds Wilderness in the northwestern Adirondacks. Although tallying a large number of species this year there was considerable automobile travel required.
The next three years of participation (i.e. 1999, 2001 and 2002) covered the trail system within the Five Ponds Wilderness in northern Herkimer County. Lakes, ponds, swamps, bogs and forest were the habitats covered extensively. The first two years yielded similar number of species, with disappointing results for 2002 when it snowed several inches on the day of the big event.
Research for a Master’s Degree thesis, several field biological jobs and numerous other life events kept me from participating for several years before I finally returned to the Birdathon last year.
The third strategy started last year with bushwhacking through the Pepperbox Wilderness. The arduous method of travel clearly sacrifices the number of species as does the limited size and fertility of the water bodies found in this area. What it lacks in bird species it more than makes up for in a sense of adventure though.
Wetland where gray jays were sighted
What will I do next year for the Birdathon? Assuming I am able, I think I might give the Pepperbox Wilderness another try. I am still not convinced the birding potential of the Pepperbox Wilderness has been reached. It would be nice to have a single year when I do not have to bolt for Cropsey Pond because of time and/or weather conditions.
A possible route for next year might start at Cropsey Pond (and thus remove any chance of having to scramble to get there late in the day) and end near Deer and/or Sunshine Ponds. Heading up the Cropsey outlet stream toward Moshier Creek could yield numerous species found near the beaver meadows/ponds lying along the stream.
From the Cropsey Pond outlet stream, the wetlands within the ravine to the northeast might yield some interesting species on the way toward the Deer Pond outlet stream to the north. Heading east along the Deer outlet would eventually lead to the Deer Pond area.
Forest near campsite at Sunshine Pond
Depending on the available daylight, areas east of Sunshine Pond could be explored, especially the wetland between Sunshine and Raven Lake. This wetland yielded many species when visited in 2010.
The day could end either near Sunshine or Raven Lake, setting up my bushwhack out the next morning via Raven Lake Road to the south. This should still allow enough time to return to the hamlet of Stillwater Reservoir to report my findings by noon.
Or maybe I will retreat to the easier and more productive trails of the Five Ponds Wilderness to the northeast.
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