The Great Blue Heron is the largest North American heron. Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge is a wildlife preserve operated by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, encompassing part of the Montezuma Swamp at the north end of Cayuga Lake. The refuge lies between the cities of Rochester and Syracuse, New York five miles east of Seneca Falls, and ten miles west of Auburn, including parts of Seneca, Cayuga, and Wayne counties. Most of the refuge lies in the Town of Tyre, in the northeast corner of Seneca County. The Montezuma Marshes were designated a National Natural Landmark in May 1973; the citation notes that `A small, 100-acre area within the site is one of the best examples of undisturbed swamp woodlands in New York or New England`. The New York Northern Montezuma Wildlife Management Area borders the national wildlife refuge and protects additional parts of the Montezuma Swamp. A significant spot along the Atlantic Flyway, the Refuge provides crucial habitat for migratory waterfowl and other birds.
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