Location: Town of Greece, Monroe County

Size: 5 acres

Description: This preserve provides migratory bird stopover habitat adjacent to Braddock Bay and close to Lake Ontario. Manitou Beach consists of five acres of field and hedgerow, shrub and cattail wetlands extending into Braddock Bay and Lake Ontario. In the spring, colorful warblers and other songbirds can be found throughout this small preserve.

Trail Description: Manitou Beach Preserve has a 0.3-mile loop trail through the open meadow, along the woodlands edge, and close to the cattail marshes of Braddock Bay for walking and birding. Genesee Land Trust maintains a short trail through the adjacent wooded Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) lands. The trail provides excellent birding opportunities in the spring.

Glt Manitou 14 DSC_1062 [1024x768]- Nigel P. Kent.jpg

Photos by Nigel P. Kent and Genesee Land Trust staff

History: The preserve is on the southeast side of Manitou Beach Road and completes the permanent protection of the open land in the area. Bordered by DEC-owned land, Braddock Bay, and a small area of residences near Lake Ontario, Manitou Beach Preserve is adjacent to Braddock Bay Bird Observatory (BBBO), an international migratory bird research station that has banded and studied birds in this area for over 20 years.

Longtime owner, William Kaiser, has been a loyal supporter of BBBO and has worked with Genesee Land Trust over the past decade to ensure the protection of this key bird habitat.

Getting There

Driving Directions: From Lake Ontario State Parkway, follow Manitou Beach Road (Route 261) north. Manitou Beach Preserve is on the southeast side of Manitou Beach Road. Roadside parking is available near the northeast end of the road.

GPS Coordinates: 43.321821,-77.714968