Plethora of habitats, location, rural surroundings all key to Montour Preserve's ecological diversity, especially during fall migration

A Great Egret takes flight above Lake Chillisquaque at the Montour Preserve. Photo by Nancy and Ritchie Heintzelman.

​While the Montour Preserve may lack the scenic views of Kinzua Bridge State Park or density of majestic waterfalls of a venue such as Ricketts Glen State Park, longtime naturalist and environmental educator Jon Beam suggested the privately owned facility in northern Montour County does provide a very unique feature.

“I always said that Montour Preserve had nothing special in the way of habitats, but what made Montour Preserve special was that it had a wide variety of habitats,” he said. “From pine stands to deciduous woods to old fields, to grassy open areas to transitional stage shrub habitat, and, of course, the lake, ponds and some wetland areas.

“In just under 1,000 acres, that is quite a variety in habitat types and I think that is what makes the property so attractive to such a wide variety of birds and other wildlife.”

In fact, as of 2020, more than 230 different species of birds alone have been identified at the preserve, according to Beam, with more species likely since then.

“The diversity of the habitat and the relatively quiet, protected nature of the environment there is crucial,” said Bill Tyler of Seven Mountains Audubon, who shared this eBird link showing bird species from 2020-2024. “You especially have Lake Chillisquaque, the Goose Woods Pond, the Visitor Center Pond, the forested areas and the open fields.”

The diversity of bird visits to the preserve – a vital stop for many species – increases now through the end of the calendar year thanks to the annual fall migration.

With birds migrating south, many of which are traveling long distances, they basically need a place to stop, rest and refuel, and a place like Lake Chillisquaque offers that kind of sanctuary for a short time,” said Beam. “It may be a day or two, or several weeks to a month or more, depending on the species.”

The migration takes place over a several-month period of time to accommodate a wide variety of species, each with different habits.

“We always have certain early migrants, and then the mid-season migrants and the later species to move through,” said Beam. “Some, like the common merganser, will be there pretty much for a couple of months up to, sometimes, when the lake starts to freeze over, if it does.”

The lake, and the preserve around it, provides a critically important refueling spot for numerous species that may have a long trip ahead of them, according to naturalist, birding volunteer and environmental educator Andrew Bechdel.

​"Some of the bird species, like Magnolia Warblers that have been detected at the preserve (recently via BirdNet technology), have a long-distance migration to the tropics. Like some fall migrants, they take a more easterly route south in fall migration," he said "The forest edges next to weedy fields are favored by many of the migratory warblers and are essential for fueling their epic journey ahead."

Sometimes, storms in the Atlantic Ocean will push shore birds further inland and they may wind up appearing at the preserve for a period of time.

“Right now, it has been really calm with no storms, and I am sure that provides great conditions for migrating,” said Beam. “In those cases, some birds might not even stop but just keep moving through.”

So, every year can be different in terms of migration and what species may show up, he added.

“We’ve had everything from wood ducks to common loons to different kinds of geese and swans. We’ve had various diving birds and sea birds,” he said. “We’ve had things like long-tailed ducks and black scoters, which is a type of sea duck, which aren’t necessarily rare, but I wouldn’t call them common, either.”

Beam said more recently he was informed there were some Yellowlegs “in the mud flats in the northeast corner of the lake” and he distinctly remembers a flock of about a dozen white pelicans visiting the lake “about 20 years ago in late August that one day just took off, circled around and disappeared.”

The preserve hosted a white pelican this past summer, briefly, which was photographed by local birders Richie and Nancy Heintzelman.

“I don’t know whether it is the topography or certain weather conditions, the profile of the lake with deeper sections of 40 feet and then shallow areas in the mud flats and beaches with rocks, but there is something that just keeps bringing that diversity back to the preserve over other local spots and I think it is the combination of habitats we have,” said Beam.

The ruralness of the area around the preserve is also key, Tyler suggested.

“Helpful aspects are sparsely populated areas, so there is less disturbance, and farmlands may provide additional food source for raptors and some waterfowl,” he said. “Increased insect population in the area works as a food source for swallows and other insectivores.”

Beam agreed, pointing out that outside of the preserve, the nearby Montour Power Plant and drywall factory as industrial sites, “Everything else is agricultural, and you know, those fields are typically one crop which might be soybeans or corn. That provides some food and doesn’t necessarily interrupt migration patterns, but it also doesn’t offer much in the way of different habitat types like the preserve does. It is just the perfect place located in the right area.”

Beyond the species that migrate through, various species have stuck around or return to raise young. A nesting pair of Bald Eagles have hung around the preserve and successfully raised juveniles each year. Last year, a nesting pair of Great Horned Owls caught the attention of local photographers, which showed off the young in a variety of images.

“In the southern end of the preserve, some years back, there was a wintering group of Short-Eared Owls roosting and hunting from a stand of pine trees,” said Beam. “I know they were there for several winters at least, but not sure how they’ve been more recently.”

Short-Eared Owls are endangered in Pennsylvania. 

"The key is protecting large tracts of grassland. On agricultural land, hay fields are preferred. Since grasslands are the most threatened habitat on earth, it's not a surprise the Short-eared Owls, along with other grassland specialists like Bobolinks, are declining in population as a result," said Bechdel. "Protecting large expanses of grassland habitat and open fields will offer the best chance for a Short-eared owl to show up in winter. Additionally, it will undoubtedly help the myriad grassland species, like Bobolinks, that have experienced similar declines."

Other species of various levels of conservational concern continue to call the preserve home or at least pass through.

“It is definitely a special place with just the right combination of elements to be a safe haven for so many species,” said Beam.

"I think the most exciting part about birding at the preserve is the aquatic resource. Pennsylvania is a land of rivers and streams and very different from other parts of the country like the prairie pothole region, Great Lakes, or shores of the arctic where many shorebirds and ducks breed," said Bechdel. "But, when we experience bad weather in spring and fall, many migrating waterfowl and shorebirds are forced to land. If they're flying over Montour County, their only refuge is Lake Chillisquaque.

"It's always incredible to see hundreds of ducks, geese and loons out on these lakes, knowing that it's just one stop on an epic annual journey around North America and beyond. For Pennsylvanians, I think this makes places like the Montour Preserve a valuable asset to both aquatic wildlife and everyone who is lucky enough to get the chance to observe it." 

Those interested in trying to see more birds at the preserve should consider investing in a quality pair of binoculars, according to Tyler, and learn how to use them well, suggesting this introductory video.

“A spotting scope is also ideal at certain times, especially for observation of species that may be at a distance on the Lake or Goose Woods Pond,” Tyler said. “Use the free Merlin phone App to assist in identifying bird vocalizations and then attempt to observe with visual sighting.”

He also recommends having a good field guide, ideally studied in advance.

“Electronic guides for smart phone that are very good include the Sibley App which allows comparisons of two species simultaneously, the free Audubon App is also very good. Use the free eBird App on the smart phone to get a list of species most likely to be seen at your given location for the current time of year and to tally any birds that are identified,” he said. “Start early in the morning, as early as an hour before sunrise until about 10 a.m and again in the evening two to three hours before sunset.”

He also recommends visiting the feeder areas in the visitor center for easy viewing of common species and observation of any birds on the nearby pond as well.

Useful learning and study aids:

• Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology https://www.birds.cornell.edu/home/all-about-birds/
• Montour Preserve bird species from 2020-2024: Bar Charts - eBird
• Audubon: www.audubon.org
• National Audubon YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/NationalAudubon
• American Birding Association: www.aba.org
• LycoBirds: www.lycobirds.org
• eBird: https://ebird.org
• Merlin Bird ID: https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org
• Larkwire: https://larkwire.com/birdsong/the-basics
• Pennsylvania Society of Ornithology: https://pabirds.org
• Vernal School: https://www.vernalschool.org
• Birdnet map and results for Montour Preserve observation pond: BirdNET-Pi - Montour Preserve :: BirdWeather