Venture Out Fall 2022

State Birding Trail offers many local sites to view nature’s aviary friends

By Bob Clark Special to Venture Out

ALLEGANY — The New York State Depart ment of Environmental Conservation wrapped up the designations for the final three regions of the New York State Birding Trail late this summer, highlighting the state’s world-class and wide-rang ing birding opportunities.

The Adirondacks-North Country, Catskills, and Southern Tier segments bring the total number of birding trail locations across the state to more than 300, providing a variety of quality birding experiences for New York ers and visitors to enjoy.

“Across the state, the New York State Birding Trail showcases the state’s diverse variety of habitats and landscapes and the more than 450 species of birds found here,” Com missioner Basil Seggos said. “The completion of the trail map is just the be ginning. We look forward to working with our many birding partners for years to come to help residents and visitors enjoy the unique and special oppor tunities for birding found only here in New York State.”

The Southern Tier segment includes 34 loca tions in Allegany, Broome, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Chemung, Schuyler, Steu

ben, and Tioga counties. Local sites include:

• Birch Run Ponds Fish and Wildlife Management Area

• Red House and Quaker areas of Allegany State Park

• Rock City and McCarthy Hill state forests

• The Pat McGee Trail from Salamanca to Cattaraugus

• Golden Hill State Forest

• Farmersville State Forest

• Conewango Swamp WMA

• Hanging Bog WMA

• Palmer’s Pond State Forest

• Keeney Swamp WMA

• Genesee Valley Greenway State Park from Hinsdale to Rochester

Birdwatching has become one of New York’s fastest-growing recreation and tourism activities.

DEC manages the New York State Birding Trail in collaboration with part ners that include the Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation. The statewide trail network includes promoted bird ing locations that can be accessed by car or public

transportation, providing an inclusive experience for all visitors to enjoy birds amid beautiful natural settings with little or no cost or investment in equipment.

New segments of the Birding Trail were opened in a phased approach. DEC announced the New York City trail segment in October 2021, Great er Niagara in February, Long Island in March, Hudson Valley in April, and Central-Finger Lakes and the Capital Region in May. With 312 locations, the Statewide Birding Trail provides birding op portunities for everyone, regardless of age, ability, identity, or background, across New York State.

DEC continues to solic it input from a wide range of New Yorkers and orga nizations that represent Black, Indigenous, and People of Color commu nities and is making trail information available in both English and Spanish. Bird walks will be held in collaboration with orga

nizations working with BIPOC communities.

The New York State Birding Trail map is available at www.ibirdny. org and provides valuable information on each site such as location, available amenities, species likely to be seen, directions, and more. Digital information on the Birding Trail will be updated periodically, so budding outdoor enthu siasts are encouraged to check back often.

In addition to Stateowned and managed locations for the Birding Trail, publicly and pri vately managed sites can complete a simple self-nomination process to be considered for inclusion on the trail. Sites all meet criteria to help ensure a positive experience for vis itors throughout the state. Additionally, each site will post signage noting it as an official location on the birding trail. For infor mation on the nomination process, see www.ibirdny. org.

Enjoy autumn splendor at Allegany State Park

By Deb Everts Special to Venture Out

RED HOUSE — When autumn shows its coat of brilliant colors, Allegany State Park is the place to be with more than 65,000 acres to explore.

Open year-round, the park celebrated its 100th anniversary in July 2021.

As the largest state park in New York state, Alle

gany offers a multitude of outdoor activities for every season.

The Red House and Quaker areas of the park connect to one another within the park limits via ASP routes 1, 2 and 3. Visitors are able to choose from over 400 campsites, 375 cabins and three group camps available for rental.

In addition to camping,

both areas offer lakes for fishing, swimming and boating and trails for biking, hiking and horse back riding. Trail maps are available at the park rental offices and online at parks. ny.gov.

Within the park, there are areas for playing base ball and softball, tennis, horse shoes and volleyball. Other activities in the

park include bird watch ing, naturalist walks and hunting. The self-guided nature trails give people the opportunity to learn about some of the 55,000 plant species that exist in Allegany State Park.

The Red House ar ea’s historic Tudor-style administration building

File photo

A family walks along Patterson Trail in the Summit area of Allegany State Park on a fall adventure.

Continued

Allegany State Park

houses the Park Restau rant, a small natural history museum depicting the animals and plants found in the park, regional headquarters and a gift shop.

Enjoy picture perfect vistas of beautiful fall colors from Stone Tower and Summit Fire Tower located off ASP 1. Locat ed nearby in the Summit area, the Art Roscoe Recreation Area offers 25 miles of trails for mountain biking, cross-country-skiing and snowshoeing.

Take in the beauty of the season while strolling the boardwalk along the wetlands below Red House Lake dam and spillway.

The walk features three viewing areas including a duck and wildlife blind. Boyer Bridge by the Red House entrance toll booth leads to an interesting conservation trail.

The half-mile Red Jacket Trail is one of the easiest in the park while the 18-mile North Country Trail is the longest and most challenging. Take a moderate hike to Thunder Rocks and the Bear Caves.

The Thomas L. Kelly Wooden Bridge that spans over Red House Creek is a popular photography spot, especially in the fall. Bridal Falls, also in the Red House area, is a pret ty sight with its 40-foot-

high cascade. They can be reached after a short walk from the parking area.

Volunteers called the Friends of Allegany State Park help promote, preserve and maintain the park. They do many projects within the park including renovations, clearing brush from the trail heads and general litter pickup to make the park a better place for all.

Members of the Allega ny State Park Historical Society keep the history of the park alive with inter esting programs that are free and open to the pub lic. They generally meet the third Saturday of each month at 1 p.m. at Camp

Allegany through April, then at Quaker Lake Bath house in warmer months.

The Friends group and ASPHS members will continue fire tower tours on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Stone Tower tours on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. through Columbus Day weekend.

The park is located be tween Steamburg and Sal amanca, off I-86 at exits 18 and 19. For more informa tion about ASP, call (716) 354-9121 or visit online at nysparks.com. To reserve a cabin or campsite, con tact Reserve America at 1 (800) 456-2267 or go online to newyorkstateparks. reserveamerica.com.

Ellicottville offers plenty of opportunities for fall fun

By Deb Everts Special to Venture Out

ELLICOTTVILLE —

As autumn turns the hill sides into a kaleidoscope of brilliant colors, there are still plenty of outdoor activities, festivals and events for visitors to enjoy in Ellicottville.

Fall Festival is one of the area’s favorite events offering a weekend of fun for the whole family with an outdoors crafts show, chairlift rides, mountain top cookouts and music. The festival takes place

Oct. 8 and 9 in the village of Ellicottville and at Holi day Valley Resort.

As the holidays ap proach, more events will be held in the village, including Christmas in Ellicottville, Nov. 25 to 27, and A Christmas Stroll, Dec. 10. To find out more, visit online at ellicottvil leny.com.

Holiday Valley is the perfect place for a fall weekend get-away. During Fall Foliage Weekends, visitors can take a ride on the Mardi Gras and

Spruce Lake chairlifts to view the spectacular fall colors on the hillsides. Mardi Gras lift is available Oct. 8 and 9, then again Oct. 15 and 16.

Spruce Lake lift will operate Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 31. For information on hours of operation and ticket prices, call (716) 699-2345.

The resort’s chal lenging terrain includes 32 miles of mountain biking trails on the state land behind the resort. The Spruce Lake chair

lift, available weekends through Oct. 16, takes cy clists and their bikes to the top of the mountain where they can begin a thrilling ride down.

On Oct. 8, competitive bikers will have the oppor tunity to test their biking endurance at Holiday Valley’s Fall Scramble. Participants must register at runsignup.com.

Hikers may want to try the Geocaching Treasure

File photo

Every year, thousands of festival-goers come to Ellicottville’s annual Fall Festival to enjoy a lively weekend of foods, arts and crafts, carnival rides, live entertainment and much more. This year’s festival will take place Oct. 8 and 9.

Autumn events on the calendar in Pa. for this fall season

By Marcie Schellhammer Special to Venture Out

The leaves are starting to change, the nights are getting cooler — and au tumn events are plentiful in the region.

On Oct. 1 will be the Sizerville State Park Au tumn Festival from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

It will be the 31st annual event, and include pioneer crafts, skills and food. Local artisans will demonstrate their skills while displaying some of their works for sale. Fresh apple cider will be made on site and pumpkins will be available for children to paint, along with other

foods and crafts. The fes tival will take place along the day use road through the park.

The Octoberfest Fall Festival at Wildcat Park in Ludlow will be held Oct. 1 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. There will be craft and food vendors, live music all day, a pie contest, bingo, children’s activ ities, a haunted pavilion, petting zoo, pumpkin painting, games and prizes.

Arts on the Island will be held in Smethport on Oct. 1 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. All proceeds bene fit the McKean County Histori cal Society. The Street Dreams Car Club will hold a car show. There will be artisans, crafters, authors, food vendors and independent retailers.

On Oct. 6 will be the Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual autumn auction at St. Bernard’s gymna sium. Social hour starts at 5:30 p.m. and the auction starts at 6:30 p.m.

From Oct. 7 to 9 will be Applefest

39 in downtown Franklin from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. Events will include arts, crafts, entertainment, a used book sale at the li brary, a Victorian residen tial architecture walking tour, Tiffany window tours, a church tour and more.

The Marilla Trail race will be held Oct. 8 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The 14-mile course is 100% off road, with the exception of a single road crossing. After the race, there will be lunch, awards and door prizes.

In Cameron County, a farmers market will be held Oct. 8 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Emporium Town Square.

At the Pennsylvania Lumber Museum in Ulyss es, a fall antique show and sawmill run will be held Oct. 8 and 9 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Multiple antique vendors will be selling their wares in the museum program room, while the museum grounds will come alive with historic trade demonstrations. On Oct. 8 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., there will be demonstra tions of the steam-powered circular sawmill.

From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 8 will be the 9th annual First Fork Festi val at the Sinnemahoning State Park. The festival celebrates the history and

File photo

A reenactor entertains children with tales of pioneers during the Sizerville State Park Autumn Festival.

Pumpkinville open for a fall of fun

By Rick Miller Special to Venture Out

GREAT VALLEY — Pumpkinville has opened for the season, and owners Dan and Diane Pawlows ki can’t wait to show off the latest auditions to Pumpkinville: The Pump kinville Feed Mill Obstacle Course and the Pumpkin ville Candy Cannon.

Diane can’t wait to see people lining up outside the Pumpkinville Bak ery for bags of pumpkin donuts with a touch of cinnamon and browsing merchandise at the Bou tique and Bounty Barn, the areas she oversees.

“We’ve got a lot of new and exciting items this year,” she added. Their daugh ter Lisa selects items for both, while their son Jim manages the Beer Garden, which was new last year. Both spend the summer helping their parents get Pumpkinville ready for its Fall opening.

This marks the 27th year the Pawlowskis have owned and operated Pumpkinville at its current location.

The first box of smaller pumpkins was picked on Friday. They will go to a woman who paints them for sale at Pumpkinville. The bigger pumpkins will be picked next week and lined up at the Pumpkin ville entrance.

It was not an easy year for pumpkins with the lack of rain, Dan said. The fog that develops in the valley

and clings to the pumpkin plants didn’t form as often this summer with high temperatures.

Not to worry though, Dan said. There will be plenty of pumpkins in the sizes kids want.

The first two weekends Pumpkinville is open there will a be Sunflower Daze benefit for Olean’s Pink Pumpkin Project to aid breast cancer survivors. Stems will be $1 each or six for $5, Dan said.

Overlooking the new ly-built Pumpkinville Feed Mill Obstacle Course, Dan said the idea came from a convention he and Diane attended last fall. They put many of the components to the obstacle course togeth er in the shop. The Utah

contractor who developed it came to Great Valley to assemble the pieces.

It is grandkids-tested and is among other attrac tions in the Fun Zone in cluding the Happy Horse Carousel, giant slide and games.

“How cool is this?” asks Dan as he points to the newest attraction, the Candy Cannon, a com pressed-air device com plete with crosshairs on the front. “It shoots candy and the kids chase after the candy. We’ll shoot it twice a day on weekends.”

The cannon is mounted on a small 1997 Suzuki truck with an open bed.

The other Pumpkinville attractions remain: jump pillows, cow train, Pump

kinville Express, corn maize, hayride Goat Moun tain and apple blasters.

The Beer Garden fea tures Ellicottville Brewing Co. craft beers including Pumpkinville Latte and EBC Harvest Ale. Two big screen TVs have been added to the Beer Garden in its second year.

Don’t miss apples being pressed into cider at the Pumpkinville Cider Mill, a 100-year-old press. The air smells as sweet as the cider.

Pumpkinville is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily at 4844 Sugartown Road in Great Valley. There’s free parking and always free admission. Save on entertainment packages by buying online.

File photo

Latisha White of Randolph, takes a photo of her daughter Olive trying to pick up a large pumpkin at Pumpkinville.

5 th Annual Arts on the Island on Oct. 1

By Mandy Colosimo Special to Venture Out

SMETHPORT — As summer fades, the colors of fall carry on traditions of beauty and outdoor fun.

The 5th Annual Arts on the Island festival, sponsored by the McKean County Historical Society, will begin at 10 a.m. on Sat urday, Oct. 1, on the scenic Hamlin Lake Island Park in Smethport.

The arts festival is held

in conjunction with the Street Dreams Car Club of Bradford car show, which draws visitors from around the region.

Come for the showcased art, see the cars, enjoy the Rotary Duck Race, and stay for the live music. And, don’t forget about the fireworks after sunset.

The live music line up begins with Bobby Spaeth from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., followed immediately by

Gene Shunk until 1:30 p.m. From 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., Jill Yingling will take the stage, followed by John Mead at 2:30 p.m. The festival’s final performer is the band After Today, and they play from 3:30 to 5 p.m.

Crafters, artisans, and food vendors will also be part of the experience.

The festival has grown every year, said organizer Bart Barton.

“Last year the weather was beautiful. We usually have between 15 and 30 crafters, and these are not resellers, they make every thing they sell. I expect we will have them back again this year. And the cars, there were nearly 90 last year,” Barton said.

The island can actual ly fit up to 200 cars on it, amazingly.

“This is a fundraiser for the McKean County Historical Society,” said Barton, “I hope it keeps growing every year and eventually turns into some thing huge. Every year so far, it has gotten bigger and better.”

The event is rain or shine, and according to Barton, unless there is really horrible weather, the festival will go on. Alter native arrangements have already been planned for any case where the island cannot be used.

The event is free and open to all. Proceeds from the event benefit the McKean County Historical Society.

For more information, call (814) 887-5142 or visit online at mckeancountyhis toricalsociety.org.

File photo

The Autumn Daze car show in Bradford Best in Show winner was the owner of this gorgeous blue 1966 Chevy Caprice. The lineup down Bradford’s Main Street is just a taste of what is coming to Smethport’s Hamlin Lake Island Park.

Fall foliage season beginning, leaf spotters activated

By Bob Clark Special to Venture Out

Get ready for the fiery reds, yellows and oranges of autumn — as well as carloads of leaf peepers. Fall foliage has started the annual change from green to the fancy fla vors of fall, state officials reported.

“From colorful foliage and unparalleled natural landscapes to breathtaking historical sites and one-ofa-kind state parks, there’s nothing like New York in the fall,” Governor Kathy Hochul said, announcing the activation of the I LOVE NY Fall Foliage Re ports. “During this season, we invite travelers from New York and out-of-state to plan a perfect autumn adventure — whether it’s climbing an Adirondack peak, visiting a Long Island winery, or walking along Buffalo’s waterfront — and see what our great state has to offer.”

The reports rely on more than 85 volunteers to provide leaf spotting data to the state, which releases new maps every Wednes day showing the pro gression of the change in leaves. The spotters track the prevalent leaf colors, approximate percentage of change, and how much col or change has progressed relative to peak conditions.

The I LOVE NY web site, at www.iloveny.com, includes an interactive foliage map, which includes recommended foliage view ing locations in each of the state’s vacation regions, plus examples of peak foliage in a given area, and information about popular local and regional attrac tions. New this year, the interactive foliage map will include an option to filter attractions by category, including food & drink, and arts & culture.

Typically, the Chautau qua-Allegany region sees its foliage peak in mid-Oc

tober, with areas at higher elevations and cooler cli mate peaking earlier. That period comes just after a planned collaboration be tween I LOVE NY and the state’s network of heritage tourism destinations on this year’s Path Through History Weekend, sched uled for Oct. 8-10. Special events and activation of historic sites statewide are planned.

According to the National Weather Ser vice, leaves change color as tree shut down chlorophyll-based food production in the fall as

the days get shorter and the weather colder. The green color disappears as the chlorophyll breaks down, revealing the yellow, red and orange pigments already in the leaves to dominate the color.

Officials report that weather through the rest of the month will affect the color. Warm sunny days and cool — but not freez ing — nights promote the best color. Hard frosts can kill the leaves and cause them to fall without chang ing color. High rainfalls will also cause leaves to have less coloration.

File photo

The Mardi Gras Slope at Holiday Valley Resort in Ellicottville has a patchwork quilt appearance in the colors of the trees lining the slope.

Birding, low cost fall fun

By Mandy Colosimo Special to Venture Out

Birding in this region has taken off as a fun and relaxing hobby. Binocu lars, a good birding field guide, and some free time — that’s all one really needs to get started on this growing pastime.

And, in the fall, some of the best migrations take place, making for even bet ter watching experiences.

John Fedak and Wade Aiken are regarded for their knowledge and expe rience with birding.

Fedak shared his insights and a few tips to get readers started. Aiken provided numerous pictures and a movie about birding readers would find interesting.

Fedak said migration is always the best time for birding, and believe it or not, the birds are almost always migrating.

“Right now, waterfowl and raptors, but also song birds and owls migrate in the fall. In the winter, you will see the snowy owls come down like last year, the ruff wing hawks and common red poles and eve ning grosbeaks,” said Fed ak. “Get a really good field guide. I like the ‘National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of the Eastern North America’ but there are others as well.”

He also gave specific groups on Facebook that offer help from more experienced to those with

less experience in identi fying birds. “Check out PA Birds on Facebook, and All About Birds, they are both really nice.”

Of course, the biggest expense of birding is a good pair of binoculars. But Fedak explained, this really is the only major expense. And until it be comes something big, start small and stay budget conscious. Another helpful tip, “go with someone who knows about birding or to a place that holds birding tours. Presque Isle has tours and they are not that far out of the way. A lot closer to home will be an event at Pitt this fall as

well,” said Fedak.

The event Fedak re ferred to is one to get resi dents started in birding.

A bird lecture and walk, from 9 to 11 a.m. at Pitt-Bradford is planned for Saturday, Oct. 1. The event is free and open to the public.

The event begins with a talk by Fedak in the Mu kaiyama University Room of the Frame-Westerberg Commons at 9 a.m.

The talk will be fol lowed by a choice of two levels of guided bird walks. Level one is a walk on the paved Richard E. McDow ell Community Trail. Level two is a hike up Quintuple

Mountain. Both levels are still on campus.

Those participating should dress for hiking, bring bug spray and water and beware of ticks.

Aiken, Era photogra pher and birding extraor dinaire, suggested area residents check out the movie “The Big Year,” starring Jack Black, Steve Martin, and Owen Wil son. Or, try the Wingspan board and card game.

For the digital birder, there’s an app for that as well, Merlin (merlin.al laboutbirds.org/), available on Apple and Android, helps users identify the birds seen and heard.

Photo by Daniella Langianese

An egret, on its fall migration, relaxes in the waters of the Willow Dale Duck Pond in Bradford.

Vibrant colors to summon leaf peepers

By Daniella Langianese Special to Venture Out

BRADFORD — Resi dents of the Bradford area and north central Pennsyl vania have the advantage of a longer and more var ied fall foliage season than almost any other region in the United States.

Mother Nature will soon embrace the time of year, at the beginning of October, where the fall foliage typically peaks for a few weeks.

Pennsylvania’s geo graphical location and its varied topography support approximately 134 species of trees and many more

shrubs and vines that contribute to the vibrant displays of autumn color.

In addition to hundreds of miles of scenic drives, the Allegheny National Forest region also allows individuals who wish to view the colorful ambiance of autumn to hike miles of trails or many miles of water trails to kayak or canoe.

The Pennsylvania Department of Conserva tion and Natural Resourc es provides interested individuals with weekly reports on the conditions of the fall foliage around the state from the end

of September through mid-November. The first DCNR fall foliage report will be released on Sept. 29 and will be updated every Thursday until the winter season takes over.

A few valuable tips for Pennsylvania leaf peepers include: Fill the vehicle’s tank with gas before embarking on a scenic drive. Some of the most memorable sights are on back roads which often extend dozens of miles through mountainous ter rain, without sight of a gas station; consider printing or hand-writing out travel plans since cell phone ser

vice can be limited in many places throughout the region; and bring a camera to capture these memories to reflect upon later in life.

To follow the vibrancy of the leaf peeping season in Pennsylvania and for di rections of detailed scenic driving tours around the state, visit the DCNR Fall Foliage Reports webpage. Visit https://www.dcnr. pa.gov/ and search Fall Foliage.

The DCNR also offers Penn’s Woods Fall Foli age interactive map, via https://maps.dcnr.pa.gov/ storymaps/fallfoliage/.

Photo by Daniella Langianese

A view of the vibrant sea of colors of the changing trees in the Kinzua Gorge, as seen from the Kinzua Skywalk of the Kinzua Bridge State Park.