nature & waterways

Canal grants available for projects that make an impact

Posted 14 September 2020 at 1:09 pm

Press Release, Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor

WATERFORD – The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor is now accepting applications for its IMAPCT! Grant program. The grants range from $2,500 to $12,000 and will be awarded to municipalities, not-for-profits with a 501(c)(3) designation, and federally-recognized Native American tribes within the boundaries of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor.

Applications are due by Friday, October 23rd.

“Over the past 12 years, we have awarded 83 grants to communities and non-profit organizations that have spurred $2.35 million in additional investments in heritage preservation, recreation, and education,” said Bob Radliff, Executive Director of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor. “We are eager to provide much-needed funding to help organizations get projects off the ground this year.”

The National Erie Canalway Heritage Corridor apporoved $60,000 of IMPACT! grants for eight projects in canal communities in 2020. None of the projects receiving funding are in Orleans County, but one includes repairs to a mural at the Lift Bridge Book Store in nearby Brockport.

The grant program is competitive, and applications should focus on one or more of five key priorities: showcasing the canal corridor’s distinctive sense of place, protecting canal historic and natural resources, promoting recreational opportunities, creating “must-do” travel experiences, and spurring heritage-based economic growth.

A one-to-one match consisting of non-federal support is required and the awards are distributed on a reimbursement basis at project completion. This grant program is made possible with support from the National Park Service and the New York State Canal Corporation.

“Our state’s canals helped build the New York we have today, and the IMPACT! Grants program supports Governor Cuomo’s ongoing mission to both preserve the system’s rich history and showcase all that it has to offer New Yorkers,” said Brian U. Stratton, Director of the New York State Canal Corporation. “These grants have helped communities and organizations across the state boost economic activity while safeguarding the critical environments and historic sites along our canals, and during this exceptionally difficult time for New York, we are thrilled to once again support these efforts in partnership with the Heritage Corridor and the National Park Service.”

Applicants are strongly advised to contact program staff to discuss proposed projects prior to submitting an application. Please contact: Andy Kitzmann, 518-237-7000 x201, andy_kitzmann@partner.nps.gov.

For more information, click here.

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Wildlife Refuge announces hunting changes for 2020-2021 season

Posted 17 August 2020 at 9:12 am

Press Release, Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge

BASOM – Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) announces online permits for the youth waterfowl hunt and COVID-19 waterfowl blind draw procedures.

Additionally, the Refuge announces the 2020 Final Hunting Plan for Iroquois NWR has been approved and awaits publication in the Federal Register.

The Iroquois NWR Youth Waterfowl Hunt remains the same except permitting will now be done online (click here). Permits are available first come, first serve from August 15 until September 15. The permit is free, but space is limited to 15 participants this year. You will receive your permit letter and Parental Consent Form upon checking out on RecAccess.

The pre-season waterfowl lottery draws will once again be on RecAccess. However, morning blind draws for the entire regular season will now be held at the Refuge Shop at 1101 Casey Road, Basom, NY 14013 to ensure the safety of staff and the public during the COVID-19 pandemic. Details of how we will safely proceed will be disseminated through our website, Facebook, and RecAccess as opening day approaches.

The 2020 Final Hunting Plan has been approved and posted on our website (click here). This plan includes changes to the 2020-2021 hunt seasons on Iroquois NWR, including other migratory birds, small game, fall turkey, and the second session of the waterfowl season. Once these changes are published in the Federal Register, we will be able to implement them. This will be reflected on our website and fact sheets as appropriate. Please continue to check our website periodically for updates.

For further information please see our website or contact Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge at Iroquois@fws.gov or Visitor Services Specialist Eric Schaertl at 585-948-5445 x7036. Iroquois NWR is located midway between Buffalo and Rochester, NY and is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

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Still time to get out and enjoy summer

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 August 2020 at 11:55 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

BARKER – These kayakers were out in Lake Ontario last evening for a spectacular sunset. They are out in the water near the Lighthouse Christian Camp in Barker, about 2 miles west of the Orleans County line.

The Toronto skyline can be seen in the background.

These kayakers paddle back to shore.

This group of three had fun riding a Jetski on the lake.

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Rare raptors draw bird lovers to Kendall

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 August 2020 at 1:21 pm

Pair of Swallow-tailed Kites have been spotted on 272, Creek Road

Photos by Tom Rivers: Josh Ketry, a bird enthusiast from Buffalo, scans the sky for a pair of Swallow-tailed Kites. Those raptors normally are in Florida but are making a rare appearance in New York.

KENDALL – The church parking lot at the Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church in Kendall has been drawing a crowd of people from all over the state in recent days.

There have been as many as 40 to 50 people in the lot, holding binoculars or peering through telephoto lenses.

Josh Ketry was able to get a photo of one of the birds in flight. He has come to Kendall three of the past four days to observe the Swallow-tailed Kites.

They are chasing a “life bird,” a pair of raptors from down South. Two Swallow-tailed Kites are making a rare appearance in the state. Birding enthusiasts theorize they were knocked off their normal path from the hurricane.

The two raptors have been spotted in Kendall for the past 10 days. But they didn’t become a big draw until Sunday, when birders started sharing on social media and websites that the Swallow-tailed Kites were hanging around Route 272 (the Monroe-Orleans Countyline Road) near the Creek Road intersection.

Josh Ketry, 41, of Buffalo was in Pennsylvania on Sunday on a birding expedition when a friend texted him about the Swallow-tailed Kites in Kendall. Ketry immediately changed course and drove 3 ½ hours to Kendall. He was back Tuesday and again today.

“This is a lifer so I’m chasing it,” he said.

He has been able to photograph the two birds. They are bright white with black on their wings and back. They tend to glide in the air. Ketry said they have been observed eating cicadas and dragonflies while in Kendall.

Ketry started getting into birds about 3 ½ years ago. He enjoyed the outdoors and hiking and wanted to make it more exciting. He set a goal of seeing an owl on a hike. They it became seeing eight different types of owls.

His list has continued to grow and he has made many friends through the hobby.

“It gave me a quest,” he said. “I’m fascinated by them.”

Lisa Scheppke of Queens and Josh Ketry of Buffalo chat in the parking lot of the Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church in Kendall late this morning. Crowds have been in the church parking lot since Sunday drawing birders from all over the state.

Cornell University has many online resources to help people identify birds, and alert them to rare bird sightings. Click here to see Cornell’s entry on the Swallow-tailed Kite.

The Swallow-tailed Kites have been crowd-pleasers so far. Ketry said hundreds of people have been able to make the sighting. They two have the added draw of flying in a pair, and they haven’t just passed through the area briefly. They have stayed for more than a week, allowing birders to mobilize to try to see them.

Lisa Scheppke, 53, made the trip from Queens in New York City. She has been a birder for about a decade. She will often go a trips with friends to see birds. It is typically a solitary hobby, with long walks through trails and the woods to see the birds.

She reached Kendall last evening but missed the two Swallow-tailed Kites. She was back at 8 this morning. She was feeling discouraged until they made their first appearance of the day at about 10:45 a.m. They tend to be spotted first in the day at 11 a.m.

Stacy Robinson left her home in the Adirondacks at 4:30 this morning to drive to Kendall to see the Swallow-tailed Kites.

“They are a beautiful bird,” she said, holding her binoculars. “This is unusual too because they are a pairing.”

Scheppke, after seeing the Swallow-tailed Kites, said she was likely headed to the Montezuma Wildlife Refuge in Central New York on the way back to NYC.

Stacey Robinson left her home in the Adirondacks at 4:30 this morning and arrived in Kendall at 10:30. Fifteen minutes later the trip felt worth it when she saw the Swallow-tailed Kites. Two of her friends from Albany and Ticonderoga also drove to Kendall and urged her to make the trip.

Robinson said she has been birding the past eight years “obsessively.” She is retired as an assistant at an animal hospital. She said birders check their social media and online communities to see if there have been life bird alerts.

“Birders are very good about sharing information,” she said. “You never know when the next one is coming.”

She said the hobby has taken her throughout the region, to small towns, nature preserves and wildlife refuges.

William Norton, 24, of Hamlin only had to drive about 5 miles to get in position to see the two Swallow-tailed Kites. He has been a bird watcher since he was 16.

He said there are many different colors among birds, and they make distinctive noises.

“It’s just relaxing,” he said about the hobby. “You’re out in nature.”

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Deadline Aug. 28 for Erie Canal photo contest

Posted 12 August 2020 at 9:28 am

Frank Forte was one of the 2019 photo contest winners with this photo of The Max Jacob on the Erie Canal.

Press Release, Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor

WATERFORD – The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor is calling for entries for its 15th annual Erie Canalway Photo Contest. Images should convey the unique character of New York’s canals and canal communities.

Entries must be postmarked by Aug. 28. Winning photos will be featured in the 2021 Erie Canalway calendar.

Images will be judged in four contest categories: On the Water, Along the Trail, Canal Communities, and Classic Canal. Judges will select first, second, and third place winning images in each category, as well as 12 honorable mentions.

Submitted images must be taken within the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, which spans 524 miles across the full expanse of upstate New York. It encompasses the Erie, Cayuga-Seneca, Oswego, and Champlain canals and their historic alignments, as well as more than 230 canal communities.

Download official contest rules and an entry form by clicking here.

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All lift bridges, locks now operating on canal system

Photo by Tom Rivers: A vehicle drives over the Main Street lift bridge in Albion on Friday evening. Orleans County has seven of the 16 lift bridges on the canal.

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 July 2020 at 9:57 am

The State Canal Corp. announced on Friday that all lift bridges and locks are now operating for the navigation season on the Erie Canal.

The Canal system is scheduled to close to navigation on Oct. 14. Maintenance was delayed this spring due to Covid-19 with canal crews operating at a reduced capacity and construction suspended.

The boating season was scheduled to open on May 15 but that was pushed back to June 26. This year is the 196^thseason the canal is open.

While all the locks and lift bridges are open on the Erie Canal, the state continues to work on locks on other sections of the canal system: Lock C-12 (Whitehall), Lock O-7 (Oswego) and Lock CS-2/3 (Seneca Falls).

The Whitehall lock on the Champlain Canal is expected to open on Aug. 10. The lock in Oswego on the Oswego Canal is expected to open on Aug. 10. The lock in Seneca Falls on the Cayuga-Seneca Canal is expected to open on Aug. 3.

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Erie Canal reopens to boaters on Friday

Photo by Tom Rivers: The tugboat Syracuse carries inspectors and officials from the State Canal Corp. on the Erie Canal in Albion on Sept. 14, 2016. The canal will reopen to boaters on Friday.

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 June 2020 at 11:48 am

The State Canal Corporation has announced today that portions of the system will reopen to boaters on Friday. That includes the section in Orleans County and Western New York.

The sections reopening will begin on Friday at 7 a.m. That’s ahead of the July 4 date that was planned for the start of the navigational system during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The season was scheduled to open on May 15, but was pushed back due to Covid-19. The public health emergency delayed the Canal Corp’s maintenance work that is needed before the canal can reopen.

The Canal Corporation has been working to get the system ready since Phase 1 of the state’s reopening started in mid-May for most of the canal system.

“Construction and maintenance activities continue at several locks across the system,” the Canal Corp. announced today.

The canal system is scheduled to close to navigation on Oct. 14.

The lift bridges, including the seven in Orleans County, will be operational each day from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. until Sept. 17. From that day until the season closes on Oct. 14, the bridges will be operational from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Orleans has seven of the 16 lift bridges on the canal system. The lift bridges in Orleans include Holley, Hulberton, two in Albion, Eagle Harbor, Knowlesville and Medina.

Click here to see the notices to mariners from the Canal Corporation for more information about other sections of the canal.

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Photos: Mother possum carries her babies in Ridgeway backyard

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 June 2020 at 4:57 pm

RIDGEWAY – Hannah Hill of Ridgeway sent in these photos taken this morning, when she saw a mother possum carrying a bunch of babies on her back on Oak Orchard River Road.

The Orleans Hub has been around for more than 7 years and many people have sent in wildlife photos. I believe this is the first time we’ve had possums featured.

“I know it’s not news, but local and adorable none the less ?,” Hill said in an email to the Orleans Hub.

I didn’t know that the mother possums have a pouch in their abdomens for the babies when they are small. As they get bigger, the babies climb on the mother’s back while she is out scavenging.

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DEC announces June 27-28 as free fishing weekend in New York

Posted 18 June 2020 at 10:39 am

Press Release, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

Photo by Tom Rivers – A fisherman is pictured at Point Breeze in this photo from May 3, 2015.

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced a Free Fishing Weekend for June 27-28. The event is the second of six Free Fishing Days offered in New York State every year.

“This free fishing weekend could not have come at a better time,” Commissioner Seggos said. “Amid the uncertainty of these challenging times, being home together has allowed many families to get outdoors and experience new activities. Free fishing days provide the perfect opportunity for all New Yorkers – from Brooklyn to Buffalo and from Montauk to Mt. Marcy – to try fishing for the first time and encourage those who have fished before to dust off their fishing rods and get outside.”

DEC encourages all anglers, new and experienced, to recreate locally and seek out fishing opportunities close to home.

Additional Free Fishing Days in 2020/2021 include: National Hunting and Fishing Day (Sept. 26); Veterans Day (Nov. 11); and President’s Day Weekend (Feb. 13-14).

During these designated free fishing days, New York residents and non-residents are permitted to fish for free without a fishing license. Free fishing day participants are reminded that although the requirement for a fishing license is waived during free fishing days, all other fishing regulations remain in effect.

DEC reminds anglers to maintain safe social distancing while fishing this year to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

Guidelines to protect yourself and others include:

Fish local: Stay close to home. Keep your fishing trip short. Avoid high-traffic destinations.
Be safe: Avoid crowds and groups. Keep a distance of six feet or more from others. When fishing from a boat, make sure it’s large enough so persons on board are at least six feet from one another.
Stay home: If you’re not feeling well, stay home. Anyone 70 and older or with a compromised immune system should postpone their trip.
Be adaptive: Move quickly through parking lots and paths. If crowded, choose a different fishing location, or time to visit.
Anglers fishing from boats should be able to maintain at least six feet of distance between one another.

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Wildlife is on the move in Orleans County

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 June 2020 at 11:29 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

MURRAY – This snapping turtle is shown last week after it managed to cross Route 31 in Fancher. Many snapping turtles have been seen crossing roads to find spots to lay their eggs.

This deer is in a field along West Bacon Road in Gaines on Monday evening.

The area will see a stretch of warm weather with the highs topping 80 degrees.

This highs for the next several days include 82 today, followed by 84 on Thursday, 84 on Friday, 86 on Saturday and 86 on Sunday.

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