When the ice melts, the birds visit
For birders “ice out” is an exciting time. As the icebound lakes thaw and open water fissures form, usually in late March and early April, the early waterfowl migration is awaited, the promise of winter’s end. Locally the premier location is the Whitney Point reservoir where flocks of geese, ducks, grebes, loons and gulls occur.
But just a few miles south of the New York-Pennsylvania border is a small lake of some 160 acres in Brackney, Pa. The lake is Quaker Lake and at “ice out” it can be a very rewarding spot for birders. Since good roads hug the lake edge on all but the south side, viewing from the road is easy and the entire body of water can be thus scanned.
Migrating birds tend to arrive late in the day and depart early, so midday can be less active. The best days are mid-March to mid-April.
This spring fewer species in smaller numbers were seen, perhaps due to the unusually mild winter and early open waters northward. Quaker Lake “ice out” was late February this year.
Seen on the lake this spring: common loon, red-throated loon, horned grebe, pied-billed grebe, mallard, bufflehead, lesser scaup, wood duck, surf scoter, old squaw, red-breasted merganser, coot, Canada goose.
And seen in other years: common golden-eye, ring-necked duck, red-necked grebe, ring-billed gull, Franklin’s gull, double-crested cormorant, common merganser, white-winged scoter, hooded merganser, brant. Osprey is seen in most years. On April 23rd, a red-throated loon in non-breeding plumage was seen; perhaps the individual seen earlier at nearby Aqua Terra.
Although Quaker Lake seems to be a overnight rest stop with a daily turnover, some birds, the common loon, in particular, will linger for 2-5 days. Groups of 8 and 12 loons have been seen to remain for days. Perhaps they appreciate the trout the Pa. Dept. of Fisheries provide for them. One year an immature loon lingered until late June when the boating became too intense. Once late April comes, the birds leave and human users take over. But the weeks around “ice out” are rewarding for birders, and Quaker Lake is close to town.
Birders’ Watch is provided by members of the Naturalists’ Club of Broome County. This column was written by Arthur Levy. For information on the Naturalists Club, write P.O. Box 191, Vestal, N.Y. 13850.
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