Montezuma Audubon Center Programs and Events
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On the Canals Montezuma Kayak Adventures
Fridays & Saturdays in July and August at 10am & 2pm
Join Montezuma Audubon Center for an inclusive, accessible, 1-mile paddle on the Erie Canal to explore the birds, other wildlife and their unique habitats. The nearby forests and wetlands are teeming with birds like the Bald Eagle, Great Blue Heron, and Belted Kingfisher. The summer months are a great time to experience these birds as they care for their young and prepare for the autumn migration. Solo kayaks, personal floatation devices, paddles, binoculars, bird guides and adaptive equipment will be provided. This is a free, family-friendly excursion for ages 12 and older. Meet us at Rivers Crossing Campground and Marina, 508 State Route 89, Savannah, NY 13146. Registration is required.
This program is funded by the New York State Canal Corporation.
- Fee: FREE
- Registration is required
- This program is ages 12+, children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult
- No previous kayak experience necessary!
Please email montezuma@audubon.org or call (315) 365-3588 with any questions.
To register, please select the date you wish to participate and complete the registration form.
July Dates:
Friday, July 26 at 10am- SOLD OUT
Friday, July 26 at 2pm- SOLD OUT
Saturday, July 27 at 10am- SOLD OUT
Saturday, July 27 at 2pm- SOLD OUT
August Dates:
Friday, August 2 at 10AM- SOLD OUT
Friday, August 2 at 2PM- SOLD OUT
Saturday, August 3 at 10AM- SOLD OUT
Saturday, August 3 at 2PM- SOLD OUT
Friday, August 9 at 10AM- SOLD OUT
Friday, August 9 at 2PM- SOLD OUT
Saturday, August 10 at 10AM- SOLD OUT
Saturday, August 10 at 2PM- SOLD OUT
Friday, August 16 at 10AM- SOLD OUT
Friday, August 16 at 2PM- SOLD OUT
Saturday, August 17 at 10AM- SOLD OUT
Saturday, August 17 at 2PM - SOLD OUT
Friday, August 23 at 10AM- SOLD OUT
Friday, August 23 at 2PM- SOLD OUT
Saturday, August 24 at 10AM- SOLD OUT
Saturday, August 24 at 2PM- SOLD OUT
Friday, August 30 at 10AM- SOLD OUT
Friday, August 30 at 2PM- SOLD OUT
Saturday, August 31 at 10AM- SOLD OUT
Saturday, August 31 at 2PM- SOLD OUT
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Plants for Birds & Kids! With Port Byron Library
Wednesday, July 31, 2024 at 3pm
Are you or your child interested in learning about the environment? Want to introduce your child to gardening techniques and the benefits of gardening? Join an Audubon educator at the Port Byron Library to learn all things plants for birds; what flowers birds and pollinators are attracted to, and how you can help the environment from your own backyard!
We will go through a presentation on Audubon’s Plants for Birds initiative and have a variety of hands-on activities and crafts for children to do. We will create seed bombs with native wildflower seeds, plant seeds to take home, and have participants create their own pretend flower bouquet. With these wonderful activities, participants will understand all the Monetezuma Audubon Center and Wetlands Complex does to help conserve habitat that supports a variety of bird species.
Please note: This program will take place at the Port Byron Library (12 Sponable Drive Port Byron, NY 13140).
- Fee: FREE for all ages, no registration required
- Please plan to arrive 5 minutes early to use the restroom and get checked in.
- Please call (315) 365-3588 or email montezuma@audubon.org with any questions
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Let's Go Birding Together Excursions
Select dates throughout the summer
Let's Go Birding Together is a guided walk that is for everyone who loves birds and the outdoors. We welcome those who identify as LGBTQ, allies, families, and anyone who wants to enjoy an outdoor experience that is inclusive. To kick off Pride month and the season of warm weather and fun adventures, we are beginning our summer of Let's Go Birding Together excursions. The Montezuma Audubon Center is excited to welcome you to a variety of guided birding walk and boating experiences.
Guided Birding Walks!
Our guided birding walk excursions will be 1-2 mile long leisure walks on even terrain. Dates below will indicate location of walks and if there are any steep inclines to be made aware of. The Montezuma Wetlands Complex is full with songbirds, Bald Eagles, Great Blue Herons, and Great Egrets throughout the summer and we want to welcome everyone to enjoy this beautiful habitat we work to conserve for the birds! Binoculars will be provided for our excursions. All ages are welcome to attend.
- Fee: $10/adult, $7.50/child, $30/family
- Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult
- Registration is required. To register, please click on the date you want to attend below and complete the registration form
Guided Birding & Boating!
Launching from Rivers Crossing Campground & Marina (508 State Route 89, Savannah, NY 13146), kayakers will experience the wetlands habitats of the Montezuma Wetlands Complex! No prior kayaking experience is required as we will be going over basic strokes and paddling techniques before getting in the water. Participants are welcome to bring their own kayak and gear but are also welcome to rent from us and use our gear. Binoculars will be provided to see the Great Blue Herons elegantly taking off, Bald Eagles soaring above, and Osprey perched in the surrounding trees.
Our paddling excursions will be around a half mile at a leisure pace. All children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult. While we do not have small child kayaks, our adult kayaks can be adjusted for ages 13+. Registration is required. Please email montezuma@audubon.orgor call (315) 365-3588 with any questions.
- Fee: $30/adult with rental, $20/adult without rental, $25/child (13+) with rental, $15/child without rental
- Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult
- Registration is required. To register, please click on the date you want to attend below and complete the registration form
Birding Walk Dates & Registration:
August 8- Montezuma Audubon Center- even terrain through grass and ston-dust path trails with one incline
Birding & Boating Dates & Registration:
August 15- Rivers Crossing Campground & Marina
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Summer Day of Play
Wednesday, August 14 from 10AM to 4PM
Are you looking for a fun way to spend a day during the end of summer? Children ages 9-12 are invited to come to Montezuma Audubon Center for a full day of play! We will be playing fun nature games, going for birding walks, making crafts, conducting science experiments, and learning all about birds and wetlands. Dropoff will be at 10AM with pickup at 4PM.
Parents MUST fill out our health and safety form as well as our code of conduct form which will be sent to you upon registering. If these forms are not filled out, your child will not be able to participate in the program. This program will take place at Montezuma Audubon Center (2295 State Route 89, Savannah, New York). Upon arrival staff will ask for the name of the guardian picking the child up. This individual will be asked to show an ID upon pickup. Please call (315)365-3588 or email montezuma@audubon.org with any questions.
- Fee: $35/ Child
- Space is limited and registration is required.
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Montezuma Guided Birding Van Tours
Come explore the Montezuma Wetlands Complex with a guided birding tour! Hop in our van and we’ll drive you to different areas of the complex to see the birds who make this area their summer home. We can expect to see Great Blue Herons, Green Herons, Bald Eagles, Osprey, and a wide variety of songbirds! Participants can either join us in our eight passenger van or follow along in their own vehicle. Each tour creates a unique birding experience, and we hope to have you joining us this summer. Space is limited and registration is required.
This program welcomes all ages. We will meet at the Montezuma Audubon Center (2295 State Route 89, Savannah, New York) and begin our tour from there.
- Fee: $15 to ride in our van, $10 to follow in a personal vehicle.
- Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult
- Registration is required
Call 315-365-3588 or email montezuma@audubon.org with questions.
To make your reservation, click the date you want to join us for a birding tour and complete the registration form.
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End of Summer Hike
Wednesday, August 28 at 5PM
Wave goodbye to summer with a guided birding hike! We will see some of our late summer blooms, such as purple coneflower and New York ironweed, and see some of our warbler species before they begin their long journey south for the fall and winter. We may also see more year round species such as the Bald Eagle, Mallard, and Red-bellied Woodpecker. Bring your binoculars or borrow a pair of ours!
This program is open to all ages and families. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. We will meet at the Montezuma Audubon Center (2295 State Route 89, Savannah, New York) and will walk on one of our trails behind the center.
- Fee: $7.50/Child, $10/ Adult, $30/ Family
- Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
- Space is limited and registration is required.
Please call (315)365-3588 or email montezuma@audubon.org with any questions.
Private Birding Tours—Reconnect with Nature at Montezuma
Enjoy a unique bird-watching tour of the 50,000-acre Montezuma Wetlands Complex! These outings are a great way to catch up with family members, close friends, or co-workers, and experience the birds, other wildlife, and habitats that make Montezuma an Audubon Important Bird Area. Choose from driving tours, birding walks, canoeing/kayaking excursions, and snowshoeing hikes. All tours are led by National Audubon Society staff and include equipment rentals, binoculars, and bird guides.
For driving tours, you will follow behind the Audubon van in your own vehicle to Montezuma’s marshes, forests, and grasslands to explore several birding hotspots and the abundant wildlife as they go about their activities. Participants will receive a conference call phone number to hear the Audubon educator narrate the tour and ask questions between stops. Guests are welcome to get out of their vehicles at each stop (facial coverings required and physical distancing guidelines must be followed).
- Fee: $150
- Available year-round for groups of up to 10 people
- To plan and reserve your customized tour, call 315-365-3588 or email montezuma@audubon.org
Testimonial
"The highlight of our visit to the Finger Lakes region was the private bird watching tour through the Montezuma Audubon Center. Since it was only my immediate family and the tour guide, it was the perfect COVID-friendly event for our vacation. The tour guide met us at the Audubon Center, lent out sanitized binoculars, and explained what type of birds we were planning to see. We then followed the Audubon Center van in our own car and were able to communicate with the tour guide using a conference line throughout the drive. We made four stops and at each stop, we had the opportunity to ask questions while bird watching. My kids, ages 5 & 8, and my parents in their late 70's enjoyed it as much as I did. We were lucky enough to see a Bald Eagle within close range and saw several circling in the distance. We also learned about waterfowl and spotted several species. My kids couldn't wait to get home and tell my husband all about their adventures of bird watching, while my parents were quick to post their bald eagle photos on social media. The tour guide had proper masking and distancing throughout the entire two and a half hour event. I highly recommend that anyone, regardless of age, consider this for their next Finger Lakes vacation." —Hadas Liebermann (Kingston, NY)
Public Program Cancellation/Reimbursement Policy:
- If the Montezuma Audubon Center (MAC) cancels an event for any reason, we will initiate a full reimbursement to your original method of payment.
- If you need to cancel your registration for an event, please call or email the MAC at 315-365-3588 or montezuma@audubon.org at your earliest convenience.
- If you cancel more than seven days before the event, we will initiate a reimbursement minus a 10% administrative fee, to your original form of payment.
- No reimbursements are issued for cancellations received less than a week before the date of the event.
Montezuma Audubon Center K-12 Field Trips
Designed for Kindergarten through high school students to connect with nature through minds-on and hands-on lessons and activities—inspiring children today to conserve the Earth for tomorrow.
Become a Member of the Montezuma Audubon Center
You are what hope looks like to a bird. Your membership will help secure the future for birds at risk from climate change, habitat loss, and other threats. Protect birds and you protect the Earth.
Make a Difference
Support Our Work
Help us to protect this critical habitat for the benefit of birds, other wildlife, and people. Donate to Montezuma Audubon Center today!
Plants for Birds
Draw more birds and pollinators to your yard with native plants! Get started today using the Native Plants Database.
Help Conserve Onondaga Lake
Please consider making a donation to the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps to help us inspire the future stewards of our planet to protect the birds, other wildlife, and habitats we all share.
