Bird lovers invited to participate in Snowy Owl Safari
WATERTOWN, N.Y. – Join Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust (THTLT) and Ontario Bays Initiative (OBI) on a Snowy Owl Safari from 8:45 a.m. to noon, Saturday, March 16. Participants will look for owls, hawks, songbirds, waterfowl and other wildlife in the fields and along the shoreline in and around Point Peninsula in the town of Lyme. OBI land steward, long-time birder and nature photographer Lee Ellsworth, along with THTLT staff, will guide the group for this outing. 
Point Peninsula has long been a prime winter birding destination in the North Country. Participants will travel around, stopping as needed to observe wildlife, both in and out of vehicles. Birds observed may include snowy owls, red-tailed and rough-legged hawks, Northern shrikes, American kestrels, bald eagles, snow buntings and more. The shoreline provides prime winter habitat for swans and a variety of waterfowl as well.
Those planning to attend should bring their field guide and binoculars. Restrooms will be available before the group heads out and upon return to the gathering location, but there are no rest stops along the route. Participants may choose to have lunch together at a local restaurant at the trip’s conclusion.
To register, visit www.tughilltomorrowlandtrust.org/events-programs/, or contact THTLT at (315) 779-2239 or lgibbs@tughilltomorrow.org. Participants will gather at the Chaumont state boat launch, 11152 Barnes Bay Road, Chaumont, New York. Coordinates: 44.06818700, -76.14865800.
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Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust is a non-profit organization that works with private landowners to foster the responsible stewardship and protection of working forest, farm, recreation and wild lands in northern New York’s 2,100-square-mile Tug Hill region. THTLT also offers programs and outings that promote an appreciation of the region’s natural and cultural heritage for present and future generations. The Tug Hill region covers parts of Jefferson, Lewis, Oneida and Oswego counties.
Ontario Bays Initiative, Inc. (OBI) is a non-profit land trust organization dedicated to the voluntary conservation and thoughtful stewardship of undeveloped, private land in Jefferson County. OBI works in the towns of Brownville, Cape Vincent, Ellisburg, Henderson, Hounsfield, LeRay, Lyme and Pamelia. To date, OBI has preserved more than 450 acres. The organization also manages the Downybrook Nature Preserve, Brownville, and the Alex C. Velto Bat Conservation Area, LeRay.
(Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust)