Honeywell Institute for Ecosystems Education Supports Audubon New York’s For the Birds!
“I like all the different activities we do and all the different things we get to learn about birds!” said Hana Hollenbeck, one of 70 fifth-grade students from Long Branch Elementary School in Liverpool participating in Audubon New York’s For the Birds! “I didn’t like birds before, but now I do!”
 Brooke Claver (left) and Hana Hollenbeck check out the eagle owl up close. |
 Seventy fifth-graders learned about birds of prey as part of Audubon New York’s For the Birds! program. |
Last Friday, the students were introduced to birds of prey including an eagle owl, a red-tailed hawk, and a peregrine falcon. The lessons, presented by wildlife rehabilitator Cynthia Page, connected students to the world of raptors. Students also learned how birds of prey are at the top of the food chain and that improving water quality in areas like Onondaga Lake is critical to their quality of health and survival. By making sure there are less toxins in food supplies such as aquatic plants and insects, there is healthier wildlife all the way to the top of the food chain.
 Wildlife rehabilitator Cynthia Page demonstrates the sensitive hearing of the screech owl. |
 Students learn that the peregrine falcon can fly up to 253 mph during a dive and other fun bird facts from Page. |
“This is the first time that For the Birds! has merged with Audubon’s Adopt an Important Bird Area program,” said Montezuma Audubon Center Director Frank Moses. “It is specifically designed to excite our youth about the wonders of birds and understand why Onondaga Lake is so important.”
 Montezuma Audubon Center Director Frank Moses feels the smooth fur of the barn owl. |
 The turkey vulture was a favorite of the students. |
“Onondaga Audubon Society is thrilled to be a part of For the Birds! because of its ability to provide children with the opportunity to develop a life-long interest in birds,” said President of Onondaga Audubon Society Gerry Smith. “Birds are a major indicator of our environment’s health and it is crucial for future generations to understand that connection.”
Students talk about their favorite birds with Frank Moses and John McAuliffe.
“Honeywell is pleased to bring such a nationally recognized program to Long Branch Elementary as part of our collaboration with Audubon,” said Honeywell Syracuse Program Director John McAuliffe. “For the Birds! provides hands-on lessons that will teach the students through their own discovery the importance of birds and bird habitats. The lessons reinforce how critical birds and birding are to the future of Onondaga Lake and seek to instill in the students a sense of stewardship that will get them excited about protecting and preserving their environment.”
 Page shows where Thomas Bianchi’s eyes would be on the back of his head if he was an eagle owl. |
 Students spread their “wings” to see how big their “wing span” would be during a flight. |
For the Birds!, a multi-session, interdisciplinary, hands-on, educational program, is aligned with New York State’s performance standards in math, science and technology, and language arts. It was established in 1997 in New York City and has expanded to rural and suburban areas of Upstate New York.
Over the next two weeks, students will build a bird habitat garden and take a birding field trip to Onondaga Lake with Montezuma Audubon Center staff and Onondaga Audubon Society volunteers.
Students ask Page about her life as a wildlife rehabilitator.
Honeywell Institute for Ecosystems Education in collaboration with the Montezuma Audubon Center and Onondaga Audubon Society also is hosting a week-long teacher workshop for middle school teachers from August 9-13, 2010. The workshop will use inquiry-based field studies to help teachers strengthen students’ critical, analytical and creative thinking skills through discoveries in watershed dynamics, habitat health, and the Onondaga Lake Important Bird Area.
For more information and applications for the workshop, visit http://ny.audubon.org/montezuma.htm or call the Montezuma Audubon Center at 315-365-3588.
For more information on the Onondaga Lake cleanup, visit www.onondaga-lake-initiatives.com.
