Braddock Bay facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Braddock Bay |
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Grassy fields at Beatty Point in Braddock Bay support ground-nesting bird species.
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 Braddock Bay
Location in New York
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| Location | Along Lake Ontario in Monroe County, New York |
| Coordinates | 43°18′44″N 77°42′57″W / 43.31222°N 77.71583°W |
Braddock Bay is a small bay on Lake Ontario in Monroe County, New York. It's located northwest of the city of Rochester. This bay is famous for being an amazing spot to watch birds. Many birds, especially raptors like hawks, gather here during their spring migration north.
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Why is it Called Braddock Bay?
The bay's name comes from a mistake! It was first called Prideaux Bay. This name honored British General John Prideaux. In 1759, General Prideaux and his 3,200 soldiers camped here. They were on their way to the Battle of Fort Niagara during the French and Indian War. General Prideaux was killed in that battle.
Over time, people mispronounced "Prideaux Bay." It started sounding like "Braddock Bay." This led to confusion with another British General, Edward Braddock. That's how the bay got its current name.
Protecting Braddock Bay's Nature
Much of the land around Braddock Bay is a mix of marshland and small bays. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) manages a large part of it. This area is called the Braddock Bay Wildlife Management Area. It covers about 2,125 acres (8.6 square kilometers).
This special area was created in 1982. Before that, it was part of Braddock Bay State Park. The state park was set up in 1956. Most of the park land was then given to the NYSDEC to protect wildlife.
Today, the Town of Greece also helps manage some of the land. This includes Braddock Bay Park. It's on the east side of the bay. This park has a special station where people can watch hawks.
Birdwatching at Braddock Bay
Braddock Bay is a super popular spot for birdwatching. Many different kinds of birds visit here. The Braddock Bay Raptor Research center studies birds here. They even put bands on owls and hawks. This helps them track the birds. The best time to see many hawks and owls is in late March and early April.
Places to Watch Birds
The Braddock Bay area includes several great spots for birdwatching:
- Owl Woods (Pear Orchard) – a banding station
- The Spits (East & West)
- The Bay itself
- Cranberry, Long and Buck Ponds
- Beatty Point: This area has lots of grassy fields. It's a safe home for many grassland birds. Be careful not to walk off trails in spring, as nests can be hidden in the grass!
- Hogan Point and Hincher Road
- Northrup Creek
- Salmon Creek
- Island Cottage Woods
- Rose Marsh
Birds You Might See
You can see different birds depending on the season:
- Spring: Look for eastern kingbirds, indigo buntings, bobolinks, Savannah sparrows, and northern harriers. You might also spot small groups of ducks, robins, swans, and Nelson's sparrows.
- Summer: Keep an eye out for black terns, Caspian, common, and Forster's terns during their travels. You'll also see red-winged blackbirds, swans, and great blue herons. Sometimes, you might even spot a sedge wren.
- Fall: Many birds are still around, like red-winged blackbirds, sparrows, swans, and great blue herons. You'll also see lots of turkey vultures.
- Winter: Even in winter, you can find chickadees flying around.
