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Birding
This wilderness area has documented 124 species with 18,780 acres of boreal forest, and 134 acres of high elevation boreal forest for abundant aviary activity. New York has designated mountain summits above 2,800' in Essex, Franklin and Hamilton counties as the Adirondack Subalpine Forest Bird Conservation. Also, fee free to visit our Adirondack Bird Directory when you have time.
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Lowland Boreal Species: Spruce Grouse, Black-backed Woodpecker, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Boreal Chickadee, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Red-breasted Warbler, Rusty Blackbird, White-throated Sparrow, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Lincoln's Sparrow, Pine Siskin, White-winged Crossbill, and Red Crossbill.
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High elevation Boreal Forest Species: Blackpoll Warbler, Winter Wren and Swainson's Thrush.
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Wetland/Ponds/Lakes/Streams Species: The bird population associated with marshes, ponds, lakes, streams, bogs include the great blue heron, green-backed heron, American bittern, common loon, pied-billed grebee, and ducks (common and hooded merganser, wood duck, mallard and American black duck).
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Song bird population: diverse from the Ovenbird, Red‐eyed Vireo, Yellow‐bellied Sapsucker, Black‐capped Chickadee, Blue Jay, Downy Woodpecker, Brown Creeper, Wood Thrush, Black‐throated Blue Warbler, Pileated Woodpecker, and Black and White Warbler, Golden‐crowned Kinglet, Purple Finch, Pine Sisken, Red and White‐winged Crossbill and Black‐throated Green Warbler.
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Birds of prey common to the area: Barred Owl, Great Horned Owl, Eastern Screech‐owl, Northern Goshawk, Red‐tailed Hawk, Sharp‐shinned Hawk, and Broad‐winged Hawk.
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Game birds include: turkey, ruffed grouse and woodcock.
Species of bird that are found in the Hoffman Notch Wilderness are:
Flycatchers (Alder, Great Crested, Least), American Crow, American Goldfinch, American Kestrel, American Redstart, American Robin, Baltimore Oriole, Bank & Barn Swallows, Barred Owl, Belted Kingfisher, Black-backed, Black-Billed Cuckoo, , Black-Capped Chickadee, Black-throated Blue and Greens, Blue Jay, Blue-headed Vireo, Bobolink, Boreal Chickaee, Brown Creeper, Brown-headed cowbird, Cedar Waxwing, Chimney Swift, Cliff Swallow, Common Grackle, Common Nighthawk, Common Raven, Common Snipe, Common Yellowthroat, Dark-eyed Junco, Hairy Woodpecker, Eastern Bluebird, Eastern Kingbird, Eastern Phoebe, Easter Towhee, Easter Wood-Pewee, European Starling, Evening Grosbeak, Gold-crown Kinglet, Gray Catbird, Thrushes (Hermit, Brown), House Finch, House Wren, Indigo Bunting, Killdeer, Mourning Dove, Warblers (Blackburiam, Chestnut-sided, Nashville, Magnolia, Mourning, Pine, Yellow, Yellow-rumped, Lawrence, Canada), Northern Cardinal, Northern Flicker, Northern Harrier, Northern Mockingbird, Northern Parula, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Northern Waterthrush, Ovenbird, Pine Sisken, Purple Finch, Red Crossbill, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Red-eye Vireo, Red-tail Hawk, Red-winged Blackbird, Rock Dove, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Ruffed Grouse, Rusty Blackbird, Sparrows (Lincoln, Savananah, Field, Song, Swamp, Tree, Chipping), Spotted Sandpiper, Turkey Vulture, Veery, Warbling Vireo, White-breasted
Endangered Avian Species
The NY State's Unit Management Plan identifies the following below species for study. We have summarized their findings for ease of reading. NY state has adopted a Bird Conservation Area program based on Audubon's programs and designed to safeguard our bird populations on our state lands and waters. They designated Adirondack Mountain summits above 2,800 in Essex, Franklin and Hamilton are the "Adirondack Subalpine Forest Bird Conservation Area" (ASFBC). A portion of the Hoffman Notch Wilderness is in this category (mainly Hoffman Mountain, Blue Ridge Mountain and Peaked Hills). To protect the ASFBC regions, please do not disturbed our endangered species. Thank you! (Pictures and links provided by Wikipedia.)
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
The bald eagle is currently listed as a threatened species by the federal government and New York. The nearby Buckhorn Mountain was believed to have been a center of eagle activity prior to 1970, although no nest sites had been confirmed. Bald eagles are sensitive to human disturbance; so if you are fortunate to see one, please "Do Not Disturb".
American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus)
This species is a bird of freshwater wetlands where it nests on a grass or among the cattails. It nests are made from sticks, grass, and sedges hidden with the tall grasses.
Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor)
 The Nighthawks will either use bare flat rocks or bare ground in open fields and pastures, and if in populated areas they may use flat, gravel rooftops. Here in the Adirondacks, the nighthawks will use the mountainous areas, provided woods are interspersed with clearings or openings. They are nocturnal and have a particular call (click here).
Sharp‐shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus)
 These hawks are sometimes call 'tiny hawks" as they are the smallest hawks in our region. The Sharp-shinned hawk prefer habitats of open or young woodlands that support a large diversity of avian prey species. They use mixed conifer‐deciduous forest for nesting, mostly in hemlocks. They had declined in numbers in the mid 1900's; and are now slowing increasing. However, they are still on the national list of 'endangered' species today.
Whip‐poor‐will Caprimulgus vociferus
Whip‐poor‐will select open woodlands in lowland deciduous forest. They will nest on the ground in dry, sparse areas and have perfected camouflage. Eggs are typically laid in the open or under a small shrub on the leaf litter where they are well concealed. Due to its haunting, ethereal song, the Whip-poor-will is the topic of numerous legends and included in many American songs.
Spruce Grouse (Dendragapus canadensis)
 In the Adirondacks, the rare Spruce Grouse prefers boreal acid bog forest with immature or uneven‐aged spruce‐fir habitat. Mosses, lichens, and small shrubs provide nesting and foraging ground cover in areas where the forest canopy is less dense. They earned the term "fool hen" for their behaviors of saying hidden until only feet away and then they go into flight.
Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus)
 The Northern Harrier is a bird of open country and is associated with wet to mesic habitats. Unlike most raptors, harriers nest on the ground, either on hummocks or directly on the ground in nests that are woven from grass and sticks.
Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)
The golden eagle is a species once found in the Adirondacks. The last successful nest in New York State was recorded in 1970. Golden Eagles have nested at elevations between 1,500 and 2,600 ft; however, surveys conducted by the New York Habitat Inventory Unit, open habitat suitable for Golden Eagles has decreased at all but one historical site.
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)
In 1974 New York initiated a program to reintroduce the Peregrine Falcon in the state. Peregrines were successfully hacked in the Adirondack Park with the release of the first birds in 1981. It is possible that Peregrines are utilizing the Siamese Pond Wilderness for nesting. Three basic requirements nesting Peregrine Falcons include open country for hunting, sufficient food resources of avian species, and steep, rocky cliff faces for nesting. The falcons typically nest 50 to 200 feet off the ground near bodies of water. Nesting sites for Peregrines usually include a partially-vegetated ledge large enough for it young to move about. The nest is a well-rounded shape that is sometimes lined with grass, usually sheltered by an overhang. Sometimes Peregrines may nest in old Common Raven nests. Human disturbance of a breeding pair may result in nest abandonment! "DO NOT DISTURB" please! Climbers, not it is illegal to climb during their breeding season, and breeders will attack. To report a falcon signings please contact NYSDEC Region 5, Bureau of Wildlife, P.O. Box 296, Ray Brook, New York 12977, 518-897-1291.
Osprey (Pandion haliates)
The American Osprey is of special concern. Osprey breed near large bodies of water where there is abundant fish populations. Numerous sightings are within the Adirondack. Osprey construct their nest in tall dead tress, but also use rocky ledges, sand dunes, artificial platforms, and utility pole cross arms for a tall advantage point. The power company has started to built Osprey poles because they often select power poles causing issues when moving their youth from the endangerment of the power lines.
Red-Shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)
The Red-shouldered Hawk is listed as species of special concern and believed to exist in the Siamese Pond Wilderness.. Red-shouldered hawks breed in moist hardwood, forested wetlands, bottomlands and the wooded margins of wetlands, and sometimes close to cultivated fields. They like cool, moist, lowland forests with tall trees for nesting.
Common Loon (Gavia immer)
 The Common Loon is a species of special concern and are located through out the Adirondacks They use small and large freshwater lakes in open and densely forested areas for breeding and nest on lakes (mostly less habited lakes). The Loons will use little shallow coves for nesting which are constructed on the ground at the water’s edge on sand or rock, wherever to avoided predators. Small islands are their favorite or small peninsular. They have a beautiful call - click: Common Loon - Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Sand Pond has been designated as important habitat for the Loon. Please do not disturb.
Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii)
The Cooper's Hawk is another species of special concern and believed to be in the Siamese Wilderness. Cooper’s hawk enjoys a variety of habitat types, from extensive deciduous or mixed forests to scattered woodlots interspersed with open fields, floodplain forests and wooded wetlands are also used. They construct nests typically at a height of 35 to 45 feet in the trees.
Bicknell's Thrush (Catharus bicknelli)
 Bicknell's Thrush utilizes fir waves and natural disturbances as well as edges of ski slopes. They breed in the Adirondacks at elevations greater than 2800 ft. The species is most common on the highest ridges of the Adirondacks, preferring young or stunted dense stands of balsam fir up to 9 ft. in height.
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