Soak’n Up the Sun’s Rays in the Finger Lakes

It was one of those late fall week days when most humans were at work but the sun shone brightly against a clear blue sky. Soon the remaining boats at City Pier in Canandaigua will be shrink-wrapped and put away for the winter.

It truly was one of those days that were made for the birds. Some of them are on their yearly migration and they gathered on the rocks along the west outlet of Canandaigua Lake – perhaps to rest up a bit on their travels or to find something to eat. Canandaigua is a great place to stop on their migration. The ever present gulls have adapted to year around living in the Finger Lakes and they scavenger or beg for food all year around.

There were the usual coots which are a rather small duck. They have feet that look almost like the feet of a chicken as they wade in the shallow waters to pick up bits of grass and small snails for their food. The larger birds that you see are cormorants (click here).  I have seen them in Florida, but not in Canandaigua. They are powerful swimmers – just look at the size of their feet! After their swim in the water, they spend a lot of time soak’n up the sun to dry out their feathers.

And of course, there are the ever present gulls that live in the Finger Lakes Region of New York all year around. Most humans have adapted to Finger Lakes living all year around, but there are some exceptions. They are called snowbirds and their migration to the south has already begun.

At the other side of Canandaigua Lake, the Canandaigua Lady returns to her berth. Gone are almost all of the tourists and the excited laughter of the children who have taken a ride on “The Lady” this summer.