Saunders Finger Lakes Museum

15/10/2026

The Finger Lakes region sits right along the Atlantic Flyway, a major migratory path for millions of birds traveling between their summer nesting grounds in Canada and their winter homes in the south.

In September and October, you can spot:
🦆 Flocks of ducks and geese gathering on the lakes
🦅 Eagles & osprey taking advantage of migrating prey
🐦 Tiny warblers, sparrows, and thrushes passing through woodlands

Where to See Them:
✨ Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge (a migratory hotspot at the north end of Cayuga Lake)
✨ Finger Lakes National Forest between Cayuga and Seneca Lakes
✨ Quiet mornings along Canandaigua, Seneca, or Keuka Lake

More Resources:
➡️ Visit the DEC’s Birding Trail page for an interactive map and full list of recommended sites: https://dec.ny.gov/things-to-do/birding/new-york-state-birding-trail

➡️ Use BirdCast to see real-time migration forecasts and radar maps: https://birdcast.org/migration-tools/live-migration-maps/

12/10/2026

Why are fall colors so unique in the Finger Lakes? 🍂

Glacial lakes, diverse forests, rolling elevations, and even vineyards all play a role in shaping the colors we see across the region each fall.

🍁 Want to see where the colors are changing? Discover current foliage conditions across the Finger Lakes and New York State with the I LOVE NY Fall Foliage Map: https://www.iloveny.com/things-to-do/fall/foliage-report/?gclsrc=aw.ds&&adara_campaignid=24147336854&adarapixelid=568237&utm_medium=cpc&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=24147336854&gbraid=0AAAAADgHKgg2evyM6Ztn_29tJXuspz2tg&gclid=CjwKCAjwoOjVBhArEiwAUwDak6k9yj-w7FCn2jjUXLTWaG0Qm3gGIdXor3k4jaoVI0oBhSUTNvcnWBoCMCsQAvD_BwE

Track peak fall foliage around New York State with a weekly foliage report, maps, and leaf peeping updates across regions.

10/10/2026

LAST CHANCE TO PADDLE TO THE STAGHORN CLIFFS. 🌊🛶

The Staghorn Cliffs at the southern end of Skaneateles Lake rise 100 feet straight out of the water and are only accessible by boat. Rocky cliffs. Ancient staghorn coral. Untouched forest above. A place most people never even know exists.

🗓 October 17 | 2:00 – 5:00 PM
📍 Skaneateles Lake Boat Launch, Homer NY
🎟Register now at the link in bio before they are gone!

And if you cannot make this one, stay tuned. The Hidden Gems series is just getting started and we have some incredible Finger Lakes destinations lined up for the months ahead.

Register now: https://www.fingerlakesmuseum.org/program/staghorn-cliffs-paddle-hidden-gems-of-the-finger-lakes-part-1/

03/10/2026

We want to see the Finger Lakes through your lens this fall.

Whether you are on the water, hiking the trails, exploring the w**e trail, or simply watching the hillsides change color from your favorite spot on the shore!

📸 Tag us at or use the hashtag below to be featured!

26/09/2026

Picture this: breathtaking fall foliage reflecting off the calm waters of Keuka Lake. The smell of crisp October air. The bursts of red, orange, and gold all around you. And at the end of it all — a cozy bonfire waiting for you on shore. 🔥

That is exactly what we have planned for next Saturday, and we are officially all sold out! See you soon paddlers!

25/09/2026

THE HARVEST MOON RISES OVER THE FINGER LAKES TONIGHT. 🌕

The Harvest Moon gets its name from the extra light it provided to farmers working late into the evening to bring in the fall harvest before winter arrived. For generations, communities across the Northeast relied on this bright September moon to extend the workday — and here in the Finger Lakes, surrounded by vineyards and farmland heavy with harvest, that history feels closer than ever.

We want to see the Harvest Moon through your eyes tonight — tag us in your shots or send them our way. The best Finger Lakes moon photos might just end up on our page.

22/09/2026

We enjoyed the last few days of summer this past weekend at our sold out Equinox Paddle on beautiful Keuka Lake!

Thanks to all who joined us, stay tuned to see what's in store for the fall!🍂

22/09/2026

Happy Fall in the Finger Lakes!

The Autumnal Equinox marks the moment when day and night stand in perfect balance — a threshold between the warmth of summer and the quiet of winter, as the natural world begins its turn inward.

For many communities who have called the Finger Lakes region home since long before it had a name, this transition has always carried deep significance. It is a season of reflection and gratitude, honoring the sacred relationship between people and the earth that sustains them.

Here in the Finger Lakes, that relationship is still very much alive. In the mist rising off the lakes on a cool September morning. In the vineyards heavy with harvest. In the wetlands alive with migrating birds making their journey south.

From all of us at SFLM, we hope this season bring you peace, gratitude, and a little time outside in this beautiful region. 🧡