Youth promoting local duck habitats

The Ducks Unlimited Greenwings, which is the youth arm of the Seneca Falls Chapter Ducks Unlimited spent an early spring morning last month at the Seneca Meadows Wetlands Preserve realizing the results of last year’s wood duck nesting box placements and discovered many ducks had nested and hatched duckling eggs. The Greenwings along with members of Boy Scout Troop 75 and members of the local 4H group built a total of 14 nesting boxes and 6 were placed within the 1100 acre Seneca Meadows Wetlands Preserve last spring. “The Seneca Meadows Wetlands is an ideal spot to install these nesting boxes, and the landfill has been completely supportive of our conservation and habitat efforts,” offered area chairman Mike Ernst. “Mark [Benjamin] and Ben [Zimmerman] go to great lengths to make sure we have the support we need.” The annual partnership between Seneca Falls Ducks Unlimited and Seneca Meadows was established to promote environmental conservation with area youth organizations. Ducks Unlimited approached the landfill on ideas to engage youth activities outdoors, and to utilize this approach to address environmental conservation needs for future generations. “Seneca Meadows has a proven track record of protecting the environment for our future generations, and this youth project helps carry these ideals into the future,” added Ernst. “The greenwings were able to see their efforts pay off this year with finding hatched eggs in the nesting boxes.” Those interested in joining Ducks Unlimited should contact area chairman Mike Ernst at 315-568-6710.