"In and Around Accabonac Harbor"

Welcome to “In and Around Accabonac Harbor”, a site to learn and to share.

Maybe you have walked along the Gardiner’s Bay beaches or enjoyed the beautiful views of the harbor from your paddleboard. Possibly you have just been sitting in a favorite spot along the harbor when something same into view- the first osprey in March, hundreds of gannets diving in huge schools of menhaden, a seal popping up. Please share your wildlife sightings with us.

How: email accabonacprotection@gmail.com

Include: Date, time and place of sighting

Other: Picture and a brief description welcome.

BIRD OF THE MONTH

January, 2022

Seen in the mowed grasslands (along with 7 others) adjacent to the Merrill Lake Sanctuary on afternoon of January 16, 2022. It was hard to miss the male’s bright yellow breast with black V across it’s chest.

This stunning bird forages by walking on the ground, taking insects and seeds. Seeds and waste grain make up most of its diet in winter. The Eastern Meadowlark is not part of the lark family but the blackbird family. The male can sing several variations of its song in spring. In NY, using spectrograms, the bird sang more than 100 patterns of its song-amazing! Although once a common bird, it is in steep decline secondary to loss of grassland habitat and use of pesticides.

Protecting the ecological integrity of Accabonac Harbor Since 1985.

"In and Around Accabonac Harbor"

Welcome to “In and Around Accabonac Harbor”, a site to learn and to share.

BIRD OF THE MONTH

January, 2022