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Southern Adirondack Audubon Society |
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Protecting the
environment through the preservation of natural
habitats
and the
advancement of environmental education
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Birding the Denton Wildlife
Sanctuary
in the Town of Greenwich, Washington County, NY
in the Town of Greenwich, Washington County, NY
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| The Denton
Wildlife Sanctuary, owned by the Nature
Conservancy, is located on both sides of Rt.4 in
the Town of Greenwich. The eastern parcel
features walking trails varying in length from
1-3 miles, meandering through mixed hardwoods
and swamp, stream, and forest habitats which
offer varied birding opportunities. Spring
wildflowers can be studied here as well, and
periods of rainy weather will produce a variety
of fungi. The property to the west of Rt.4
is mostly wetland, including river frontage and
a small pond. The Denton Preserve Bird Species List |
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Directions
From the north, head
south on Rt.4, 9.5 miles from the traffic light at
the intersection of Rt. 197 and Rt.4 in the
Village of Ft. Edward. The parking area is
on the left. From the south, go north on
Rt.4 from the Village of Schuylerville.
After crossing the bridge over the Hudson River,
proceed .5 mile to the parking area on the
right. The wetland and river frontage is
accessed by turning west onto River Rd. at the
north end of the bridge over the Hudson. |
 This wetland and
stream area provides habitat
for many insect-eating birds.  Looking down one trail in early fall.  This new sign prohibits dogs, motorized vehicles, mountain biking, collecting, etc. |
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Birding the Denton Trails Spring is a very
active time in these woods. In the open
area at the beginning of the trail, listen for
Yellow-throated Vireo, Rose-breasted Grosbeak,
House Wren, Gray Catbird, Brown Thrasher,
Blue-winged warbler, Eastern Towhee, Field
Sparrow, and Indigo Bunting. As you
explore the woods you will hear, and with
patience, see, several flycatchers, such as
Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Least
Flycatcher and Great Crested Flycatcher - the
only flycatcher that nests in a cavity! Wood
Thrush and Veery will both be found as you
move deeper into the moist woods.
Several warbler species can easily be found,
such as Yellow, Yellow-rumped,
Black-and-white, American Redstart, Ovenbird,
and Common Yellowthroat. Other birds to
listen for include Red-eyed Vireo, Warbling
Vireo, Scarlet Tanager, and Chipping
Sparrow. American Woodcock has been
observed here as well.
During summer keep a lookout for Eastern Kingbird, Baltimore Oriole, Common Grackle, Red-winged Blackbird, and Brown-headed Cowbird. Be sure to take inventory of the swamps and streams for Great Blue Heron, Green Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Tree and Barn Swallow, and occasionally Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. Also, if approached discreetly, Wood Duck, Hooded Merganser, and Mallard can be viewed feeding in the swamps. Throughout the sanctuary listen for Red-tailed Hawk and both Black-billed and Yellow-billed Cuckoo. Turkey Vulture and Canada Goose can often be seen flying over and an occasional Killdeer will be found moving among the fields nearby. Fall is a good time to get your woodpecker fix. All six common species are here: Downy, Hairy, Red-bellied, Pileated, and Northern Flicker can often be seen on one visit, with the addition of Yellow-bellied Sapsucker in early fall before it migrates south. Other residents include Blue Jay, American Crow, Northern Cardinal, American Robin, Mourning Dove, and Song Sparrow. You can also hear Ruffed Grouse drumming, American Goldfinch calling as they fly about, and the occasional White-throated Sparrow. Winter hosts many resident favorites such as Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, and Cedar Waxwing. Less common are Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet, and Dark-eyed Junco. Barred Owl is occasionally heard as well. Along the Hudson During spring migration, a drive along the River Rd. section of the preserve will afford opportunities to see many species of waterfowl; over a dozen species have been recorded in this section of the river. Yellow-throated Vireos, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, and several warbler species have been seen as well. Woodpeckers love this section, as there are many dead trees to provide food for their young. The small pond on the right as you head north nearly always has Wood Duck, Great Blue Heron, and Belted Kingfisher, and often Green Heron can be found as well. We know this location hosts many species not yet observed, so if you have any additions to this list, please send us the species name, your name, and the date the bird was observed. |
