Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

Before contacting us via e-mail, please see if the answer to your question appears below or at the Service FAQ site..

Your answer may also be found at the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service web site at www.fws.gov.

TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION

How big is Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge?

The refuge has 10,828 acres which is roughly 7 miles east to west by 3 - 3.5 miles north to south.

How many eagles to you have?

There are two pair and a varying number of immature eagles. One nest has produced chicks almost every year since they began nesting in 1986 but the young do not stay around the nest after they have flown. In fact they would be considered intruders by their parents.

How can I get a publication or maps from the refuge?

To obtain a refuge publication by mail you may write:

Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge
1101 Casey Road
Basom, NY 14013

You may also request a publication by phone at (585) 948-5445 or by email at iroquois@fws.gov.

Where is the best place on the refuge to see the geese?

Geese move around. The best times to catch them on the impoundments is just after sunrise and just before sunset. At these times the Cayuga, Ringneck and Mallard Overlooks are prime observation points. As the sun comes up, most of the birds will fly to feed in fields within a 15 mile radius of the refuge during the day and return to the impoundments where they spend the night at sunset. On the refuge, one the most popular feeding spots is Forestel Flats at the corner of Route 63 and Oak Orchard Ridge Road.

Where do the geese migrate?

Most of the geese that use the refuge have flown up from the Chesapeake and Delaware Bay areas. In the spring they migrate through on their way to Northern Canada, the James Bay and Hudson Bay areas.

I have a bag of old bread. Where can I feed the birds?

Please, never feed the wildlife. People food is not good for wildlife because their digestive systems are different. Feeding them could weaken them to the point that they can get sick or die. They may become dependant on handouts and then when the handouts stop, they may starve. Besides, even though they are cute, these are WILD animals. They may not like you getting in their space.

Where is the eagle nest?

There are actually two nests. One is located in the middle of Mohawk Pool about 1/2 mile behind headquarters. It is not visible from any public place. The second nest is in Cayuga Pool. It is visible from the Cayuga Overlook, with a scope.

Where do the eagles go in the winter?

They stay on the refuge as long as there is open water and food available. After the chicks have left they do not spend much time around the nest, but will wander around the area instead. Once the impoundments freeze over they will only go as far as they have to find food again. Known wintering areas are along the Delaware River, the St. Lawrence Seaway, the Great Lakes or other large water areas.

Where do the baby eagles go after they leave the nest?

Where ever they want. Once they leave the nest and learn how to hunt on their own the young and the parents go their separate ways. The young will wander around for about four or five years at which age they will find a mate. The male selects the nest site, usually within 100 miles from where he learned to fly. The females will go where ever their mate takes them. Sadly, most never make it that far. Mortality is 50 percent in the first year. After that only 1 in 6 make it to mating age.

Where can I camp on the refuge?

Camping is not permitted on the refuge. There are a number of campgrounds within a half hour's drive. You should contact the local tourism offices or local phone books for information.

Where can I canoe on the refuge?

Canoes and other boats without motors are permitted on Oak Orchard Creek year around, weather permitting. You may canoe between Knowlesville Road, which is the eastern boundary of the refuge, to Route 63, the mid-point of the refuge, only. Expect some obstructions as this is a bottomland hardwood swamp.

Why do you allow hunting?

This is a common and controversial question. Basically, the answer is that hunting is a tool of the management program to control populations of some species within carrying capacity of the habitat. Second, it has to do with the enabling legislation. Iroquois was established under the Migratory Bird Conservation Act (the Duck Stamp Act). This law provides that waterfowl hunting will be permitted on refuges established under the act. Additionally, the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 identifies six wildlife oriented recreational activities that will be allowed on National Wildlife Refuges, where possible. They are: hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, interpretation, photography and environmental education. Third, the refuge is a refuge from development, not death. Death is a natural part of nature. The refuge does provide sanctuary areas which are closed to hunting and any other human interference at critical times of the year.

Why can't I take this nest I found in the field home with me?

You should not remove anything from the refuge. Nests, eggs, even feathers of migratory birds are protected under the law. Nests should never be disturbed. Some migratory birds will reuse the same nest year after year. Many of the endangered birds and animals got that way because of the market for feathers and other animal parts that were used in fashion or as novelties. A special permit is required to possess any of these items and is usually only issued for educational purposes or, for religious purposes. Native Americans are the only people permitted to possess bald eagle feathers or parts for religious purposes and they too must have a permit before one is provided to them. They cannot go out and pick one up either. It may seem unreasonable, but the law had to be made that strict to close all the loopholes exploiters were finding.

What type of habitat does the refuge provide?

The refuge habitats include:

Wetland
Forested	4,601
Marshes	3,145 (16 impoundments)
Upland
Cropland	620
Grassland	1,072
Forest	700
Brushlands	680

What do geese eat?

Geese are vegetarians. Grass, seeds of aquatic plants, and grain are their favorite foods. Do not feed them stale donuts or anything else you brought from home. It is not healthful for them and can cause conflicts between geese and people.

What species of waterfowl may be observed on Iroquois?

There are 20 species of ducks that use the refuge. Also, small numbers of snow geese, and tundra swans can be seen in the spring. The most common are mallards, wood ducks, hooded mergansers. There are also green-winged teal, American black duck, northern pintail, blue-winged teal, Northern shoveler, gadwall, American widgeon, canvasback, redhead, ring-necked duck, greater and lesser scaup, bufflehead, common merganser, red- breasted merganser, and ruddy duck. Occasionally there are long-tailed seas ducks (formerly oldsquaw) in the spring and summer.

What do you feed the animals?

We do not directly feed any of the animals on the refuge. The refuge is managed to provide natural food for the wildlife. They know what they like and how to get it.

What do eagles eat?

They eat from the four major food groups: fish, mammals, birds and snakes, but 90 percent of their diet is fish, which is why they live around water. Other delicacies include: muskrats, mice, voles, goslings, full grown ducks and pretty much anything smaller than they are.

What are those big boxes on poles out in the water?

Those are nesting boxes for wood ducks and hooded mergansers. These birds typically nest in the cavities of old trees. The boxes replace many of the traditional nest sites lost to development and protect the nest from predators.

When is the best time of year/day to see the geese?

Canada (NOT Canadian) geese may begin arriving from the south during the last part of February or the first part of March depending on the weather. Peak is generally the first week or two in April with on average 40,000 - 60,000 birds in the area. Most will move on by the first week of May leaving a few hundred to nest on the refuge. Fall migration is less spectacular as most birds travel south on a more easterly route. Peak is usually the middle of October. The best times of the day to see them in large numbers on the marshes are early in the morning, just at sunrise or near sunset. Geese feed during the day in local pastures or fields within a 15 mile radius of the refuge. They are generally only on the refuge at night, unless they are nesting.

This page was updated: May 29, 2008