Birdwatching meets wine and craft beer this spring as the Montezuma Audubon Center rolls out a series of guided outings across the Finger Lakes, blending nature walks with tastings and live raptor demonstrations.
The programs, scheduled from late May through June, will take participants on short, guided birding excursions before pairing the experience with tastings at local wineries, a distillery and a brewery.
Each event includes a roughly one-mile, leisure-paced walk led by an Audubon educator, followed by a guided tasting hosted by venue staff. Select programs will also feature a live bird of prey presentation led by experts from Braddock Bay Raptor Research or the Cornell Raptor Program.
The series begins Saturday, May 23, at 10 a.m. at Montezuma Winery and Hidden Marsh Distillery in Savannah. Additional events are planned for Saturday, June 13, at 10 a.m. at Fox Run Vineyards on Seneca Lake, and Saturday, June 20, at noon at Fleur de Lis Brewery.
Organizers say the programs are designed to connect participants with the region’s natural and agricultural landscapes while supporting local businesses. Attendees must be 21 or older to participate in tastings, though those interested only in the birding walk and raptor presentation are also encouraged to attend.
Tickets for the winery and brewery experiences range from $35 to $45, with meeting details provided upon registration. The events are part of the center’s broader effort to engage the public in conservation through hands-on experiences in the Montezuma Wetlands Complex and surrounding areas.
The Montezuma Audubon Center, operated in partnership with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the National Audubon Society, focuses on habitat protection and education in one of North America’s most significant bird areas.
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