Keeney Swamp Wildlife Management Area

Located in Allegany County, Keeney Swamp Wildlife Management Area is a designated Bird Conservation Area (BCA) in the aptly named town of Birdsall.

The 708-acre parcel, located about 13 miles northeast of the village of Angelica and six miles southwest of the Village of Canaseraga, includes nearly 530 acres of shrub swamp, emergent marsh, and open water wetlands and approximately 150 acres of brush and grassland. The area is primarily made up of wetland habitat and is home to a variety of waterfowl and song birds.

Most of Keeney Swamp had been drained for agricultural purposes in the 1800s but by the late 1960s, most of the farms were abandoned. Beavers re-occupied the area and built dams that created several large impoundments. The area was purchased in 1978 by the DEC to ensure the permanent preservation of this diverse natural wetland.

Around 1990, four of the largest beaver dams failed over an eighteen month period. This resulted in a net loss of approximately 300 acres of shallow water impoundment. By the late 1990s, this loss of habitat had decreased the diversity and abundance of many wildlife species, particularly water birds.

DEC received requests from birding groups and sportsmen to restore the wetland habitat. As a result, DEC constructed a water impoundment in 2001 to return the area to wetlands.

Numerous species of waterfowl breed or migrate here through the various wetlands, including Canada geese, wood duck, American black duck, mallard, blue-winged teal, hooded merganser, bufflehead, tundra swan, common moorhen, Northern pintail, common loon, and pied-billed grebe.

A tremendous diversity and abundance of songbirds also breed and migrate through the shrub and forest habitat. Some grasslands also support grassland species including Northern harrier, upland sandpiper, vesper sparrow, bobolink, and Eastern meadowlark. You can check out some of the latest bird sightings on eBird.

In addition to providing great birding opportunities, this site features trails and visitor parking.  To plan a visit to this site or to check out more unique birding areas located throughout New York State, check out the NYS Birding Trail map.

Photo: A Pond A Keeney Swamp WMA (courtesy DEC).