 | This article may rely excessively on sources too closely associated with the subject, potentially preventing the article from being verifiable and neutral. (May 2017) |
| Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge | |
|---|---|
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area) | |
  Montezuma NWR | |
| Location | Seneca County, New York |
| Nearest city | Seneca Falls, New York |
| Coordinates | 42°58′N 76°44′W / 42.97°N 76.74°W |
| Area | 10,004.58 acres (40.4871 km2)[1] |
| Established | 1937 |
| Governing body | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Website | Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge |
| Designated | May 1973 |
Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge is a wildlife preserve operated by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, encompassing part of the Montezuma Swamp at the north end of Cayuga Lake. The 10,004-acre (40.48 km2) preserve is composed of swamps, pools and channels and is a stopping point for migratory birds. It is the largest contiguous wetland complex in the northeastern United States[2] and comprises a portion of the larger Montezuma Wetlands Complex, which is a partnership between the USFWS, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, as well as several other non-profit support organizations.[3]
A significant stopover along the Atlantic Flyway, the refuge plays a crucial role in offering essential migration and nesting grounds for various bird species, including waterfowl, marsh birds, shorebirds, raptors, warblers, woodpeckers, and more.[4]
Opened in 1938 as the Montezuma Migratory Bird Refuge, the area has seen many developments over the years in terms of its land size and wildlife management strategy. In May 1973 The Montezuma Marshes were designated a National Natural Landmark.[4]
The refuge lies between the cities of Rochester and Syracuse, New York (five miles [8 km] east of Seneca Falls, and ten miles [16 km] west of Auburn), including parts of Seneca, Cayuga, and Wayne counties. Most of the refuge lies in the Town of Tyre, in the northeast corner of Seneca County.
- ^ "National Wildlife Refuges-Acres By Unit" (PDF). US Fish and Wildlife Service. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
- ^ Wagner, Matthew R.; Schummer, Michael L.; Cripe, Geoff; Halliday, Mathew; Coluccy, John M.; Fleming, K. Sarah (2022). "Land Protection Partnership in the Montezuma Wetlands Complex, New York, USA". Case Studies in the Environment. 6 (1). doi:10.1525/cse.2022.1711654. ISSN 2473-9510.
- ^ "Montezuma Wetlands Complex Maps". Retrieved November 7, 2023.
- ^ a b "Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge". U.S Fish & Wildlife Service. Retrieved November 2, 2023.