More than 20 community members explored and learned about Onondaga Lake’s recovery on Oct. 20. The Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps partnered with the Central New York Chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America’s Young Naturalist Leadership Team (YNLT) to record Onondaga Lake’s most recent improvements. Participants found evidence of thriving ecosystems, including 23 unique bird species. Notable bird species observed include bald eagle, white-throated sparrow, and ruby-crowned kinglet. Other significant finds included coyote tracks; white waterlily, which creates habitat in deep-water areas; and young-of-year largemouth bass, which indicate that fish are spawning in Onondaga Lake.

Left: Botanist Joe McMullen (center) shows Joe and Jan Hansen (left), of Liverpool, and YNLT member Kate Abbott (right) characteristics of plants found in wetlands along the southwest shoreline of Onondaga Lake. Young trees seen in the wetlands included swamp white oak, sycamore, and red maple.
Right: Autumn Keefe, of Syracuse, observes a cattail seed pod during a scavenger hunt to inventory plant species.

Throughout the event, participants worked with the Young Naturalist Leadership Team and habitat experts from Onondaga Audubon, OBG, and Parsons to inventory species found in the recently restored habitat areas at Harbor Brook, and the southwest and western shorelines of Onondaga Lake. The observations will be compiled with other data being collected by wetland ecologists to understand conditions of recently restored areas in the Onondaga Lake watershed. Participants also learned about aspects of maintaining a healthy ecosystem, such as pond ecology, the importance of macroinvertebrates to the environment, and creating seed bags for the wetlands, which are made of topsoil, small stones, and seeds placed in a small biodegradable burlap bag.

Tracy Willey (center), Biology Teacher at Westhill High School, examines and identifies macroinvertebrates with Tom Hughes (left), YNLT volunteer and Natural Resource Steward Biologist with New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, and Katie Moranz (right), a wetland ecologist at Parsons. Macroinvertebrates found included mayfly nymphs, scuds, caddisfly larvae, daphnia, and water beetles.
“The experience today monitoring pond water quality along the western shoreline of Onondaga Lake was amazing,” said Willey. “When we scooped out material from the wetland, it didn’t look like there was anything there. But as we sat still and waited, a variety of tiny organisms emerged from the vegetation. I came today out of curiosity to see what’s here and it was a privilege to take part. I can bring this information back to the classroom.”

Left: Sisters Evie (left) and Autumn Keefe, of Syracuse, take turns tossing burlap seed bags containing pickerelweed seeds into the wetlands.
Right: YNLT member Candace Schermerhorn (center) removes fish from a seine net for closer observation with Matt McDonough (left) and Jim Molloy, of Parsons. Species found included banded killifish, emerald shiner, and rock bass.

Onondaga Community College student Kaitlyn Jordan (left), and Alivia Sheffield, YNLT volunteer and Piping Plover Project Coordinator with the New York State Office of Parks and Recreation and Historic Preservation, examine a shed snakeskin found in a wetland area on the western shoreline.
“Understanding and knowing the past of this area, it was incredible the amount of biodiversity we were able to find, from small macroinvertebrates to bald eagles and coyote prints,” said Sheffield. “This ecosystem is starting to thrive once again. Saturday not only showed that, but that the community cares and is willing to put in the effort to keep it that way.”

On the shores of Onondaga Lake and along its tributaries, about 90 acres of wetlands have been restored by Honeywell and about 1.1 million native plants are being planted. Nearly 260 wildlife species have been identified in and around Onondaga Lake, including more than 120 unique bird species.

The Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps is an expanding organization of community volunteers who are contributing to restoration projects that are creating, improving, and monitoring wildlife habitat in the Onondaga Lake watershed and sustaining its value as an Audubon Important Bird Area.

Since the formation of the Corps, over 30 events have brought together nearly 850 volunteers who have become environmental stewards and Corps members. In recognition of their work, the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps was awarded a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 2015 Environmental Champion Award.

The Corps was founded in 2012 by Honeywell in partnership with Montezuma Audubon Center and Onondaga Audubon and is now an Audubon New York program. Additional Corps supporters include Parsons, OBG, Anchor QEA, Bond Schoeneck & King, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, and Wild Ones Habitat Gardening in CNY Chapter.

To learn more about the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps or participate in future activities, please contact montezuma@audubon.org, visit http://ny.audubon.org/OLCC, www.facebook.com/onondagalakecc, or www.youtube.com/onondagalakecc, or @onondagalakecc on Instagram, or call 315-365-3588.

View more photographs of the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps.

Forty-three volunteers gathered along the future home of the Loop the Lake Trail extension Saturday, September 29, to build and install bird boxes, and participate in citizen science monitoring. The volunteers are part of the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps, an expanding organization of community volunteers who are contributing to restoration projects that are creating or improving wildlife habitat in the Onondaga Lake watershed. The volunteers built nearly 30 bluebird nesting boxes, which were provided through a partnership with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, and FORCES (Friends of Recreation, Conservation and Environmental Stewardship).

Left: First-time Corps volunteers Ian (left), 6, and mom Rebecca Margiotta, of Baldwinsville, construct a wooden nesting box to attract Eastern bluebirds.
Right: Deborah and David Holihan (left), of Liverpool, install a bird box near Harbor Brook.

The boxes offer bird species a better chance to survive and thrive, reducing declines in population and restoring species to places they once inhabited. When birds nest in the structures, they have the best likelihood of raising their young successfully.

Tom Hughes (right), Natural Resource Steward Biologist with New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, demonstrates how to construct bird boxes.
“We at New York State Parks are committed to conservation efforts within our communities,” said Hughes. “Constructing and installing bluebird nesting boxes is one way we can all work together to create or enhance habitat for New York’s official state bird.”

Left: Kathy Chapin (left), of East Syracuse, installs a nesting box with Onondaga Audubon volunteer Frank Moses (right) along the southwest shoreline of Onondaga Lake.
Right: Three-year-old Eleanor Sunkes, of East Syracuse, decorates a bird box held by Barbara Kamerance, of Central Square, before it is placed in the field.

During the event, Corps members tracked native birds on a birding walk along Onondaga Lake’s western and southwest shorelines, and cleaned out existing nesting boxes to prepare them for the next breeding season.

Ten-year-old Leah Jarrett (right), of Liverpool, inspects the contents of a nesting box previously installed along the western shoreline with her parents Cathy (center) and Rich Jarrett.

Left: Liam Adams (left), 13, and mom Heather Adams, of Cicero, track native birds along the western shoreline of Onondaga Lake.
Right: Steve Mooney (center), Managing Scientist at OBG, examines the restored habitat with participants Steven Knowles (right), of Camillus, and Tim Gordon (left).

As part of the Onondaga Lake cleanup, Honeywell has restored about 90 acres of wetlands, and about 1.1 million native plants are being planted. The restored wetlands have become home to nearly 260 wildlife species, including more than 120 unique bird species that have been identified in and around Onondaga Lake.

The Corps seeks to inspire future stewards of Onondaga Lake and its watershed through a hands-on, experience-based program that offers citizens and organizations the opportunity to participate in activities that help restore and sustain Onondaga Lake and its value as an Important Bird Area.

Since the formation of the Corps, over 30 events have brought together more than 800 volunteers who have become environmental stewards and Corps members. In recognition of their work, the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps was awarded a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 2015 Environmental Champion Award.

The Corps was founded in 2012 by Honeywell in partnership with Montezuma Audubon Center and Onondaga Audubon and is now an Audubon New York program. Additional Corps supporters include Parsons, OBG, Anchor QEA, Bond Schoeneck & King, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, and Wild Ones Habitat Gardening in CNY Chapter.

To learn more about the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps, visit http://ny.audubon.org/OLCC, www.facebook.com/onondagalakecc, or www.youtube.com/onondagalakecc.

View more photographs of the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps.

For more information on the Onondaga Lake cleanup, please visit www.lakecleanup.com.

Central New York community members enjoyed enhanced wetland areas and wildlife as they explored Nine Mile Creek and near-shore areas of Onondaga Lake in canoes and kayaks on Saturday, August 11. Nine Mile Creek is a thriving ecosystem and part of a green corridor connecting Onondaga Lake to upland areas as a result of Honeywell’s remediation and restoration work.

Left: Participants paddle from the public Nine Mile Creek canoe and kayak launch off of Pumphouse Road in Geddes to Onondaga Lake.
Right: Taylor (front) and Pamela Jones, of Baldwinsville, paddle down Nine Mile Creek.

The event was hosted by the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps. During the paddle, participants became citizen scientists as they learned about the enhanced wetlands at Nine Mile Creek and Onondaga Lake and how they are supporting the Onondaga Lake watershed and its value as an Important Bird Area. Habitat experts from Montezuma Audubon Center, Onondaga Audubon Society, Parsons, and Honeywell shared their expertise and discussed the enhancements made to Nine Mile Creek.

“The paddle was an amazing opportunity to see how much work has been done and learn why specific species were planted,” said participant John Scott, pictured above. “Seeing the habitat growth in the restored areas and the wildlife that has returned was incredible.”

The restoration of Nine Mile Creek included restoring forested wetlands, enhancing stream conditions for fish spawning and migration, and improving habitat along the creek. Thirty acres have been transformed into diverse new habitat, a healthier creek, and improved access for recreation. Nine Mile Creek is now home to more than 145 fish and wildlife species, including beaver, muskrat, white-tailed deer, bald eagle, and northern pike. The area is playing a significant role in creating a healthy Onondaga Lake watershed and a sustainable ecosystem.

The creek is open to the public for fishing, kayaking, and canoeing.

Watch a video to learn about the restored Nine Mile Creek.

Left: Along the course, participants identified 26 bird species, including great blue heron (pictured above), osprey, indigo bunting, green heron, belted kingfisher, and common yellowthroat.
Right: Jill and Marena Russo, of Baldwinsville, paddle in kayaks.

“As Onondaga Lake’s recovery continues, the community is enthusiastic about opportunities to use the lake,” said Honeywell Syracuse Program Director John McAuliffe. “The restoration work completed at Nine Mile Creek and along the shores of Onondaga Lake is providing increased recreational opportunities and lake access for the Central New York community.”

Nine Mile Creek is one of the primary tributaries of Onondaga Lake, flowing north and east through Camillus and entering Onondaga Lake as it passes under the Onondaga County West Shore Trail extension. The remediation of Nine Mile Creek was performed under the oversight of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

On the shores of Onondaga Lake and along the lake’s tributaries, Honeywell has improved nearly 90 acres of wetlands, and is planting about 1.1 million plants, trees, and shrubs.

View a Nine Mile Creek wetlands plant list.

The Corps was founded in 2012 by Honeywell in partnership with Montezuma Audubon Center and Onondaga Audubon Society. Additional Corps supporters include Anchor QEA, Audubon New York, Bond Schoeneck & King, Habitat Gardening in Central New York, OBG, Parsons, and the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry.

Since the formation of the Corps, 21 events have brought together more than 800 volunteers who have become environmental stewards and Corps members. In recognition of their work, the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps was awarded a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 2015 Environmental Champion Award.

To learn more about the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps, visit http://ny.audubon.org/OLCC, www.facebook.com/onondagalakecc, or www.youtube.com/onondagalakecc.

View more photographs of the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps.

For more information on the Onondaga Lake cleanup, please visit www.lakecleanup.com.

Forty-five community volunteers participated in citizen science monitoring on May 5 by examining and recording plant and animal species found in Onondaga Lake’s restored wetlands. During the event, volunteers identified nearly 80 species, including 30 bird species. Notable species included bald eagle, sora, snowy egret, Northern shoveler, yellow perch, and muskrat.

The event was hosted by the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps in partnership with the Central New York Chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America’s Young Naturalists Leadership Team. It offered community members the opportunity to observe firsthand Onondaga Lake’s most recent habitat improvements.

Left: 14-year-old Nolan Gryzlo, of Skaneateles, New York, monitors water quality with assistance from Young Naturalists Leadership Team member Saadiya Sheekh-Nuur.
Right: Mike Serviss, Young Naturalists Leadership Team member, identifies vegetation at Geddes Brook wetlands.

Volunteers worked with the Young Naturalists Leadership Team and habitat experts from Onondaga Audubon Society, OBG, and Parsons to explore and inventory the abundant plant and animal life found in restored wetlands at Geddes Brook and along Onondaga Lake’s southwest and western shorelines.

Left: Matt McDonough (left) and Jesse Carr, Parsons habitat experts, use a seine net to catch and identify fish.
Right: Candace Schermerhorn, Young Naturalists Leadership Team member, nets aquatic species at Geddes Brook wetlands.

“The Young Naturalists Leadership Team creates opportunities to connect the Central New York community to conservation, restoration, environmental education, and stewardship projects,” said Young Naturalists Leadership Team Project Coordinator Shannon Fabiani, pictured above, right, with Schermerhorn, helping 7-year-old Josh Gates (center) identify plant and animal species. “We are excited to work with the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps to inspire environmental stewards throughout our community.”

The observations are being compiled with data collected by wetland ecologists to understand conditions of recently restored areas in the watershed.

“Today’s event provided me the opportunity to look at the health of Onondaga Lake and the surrounding land,” said Stephanie Cross, of Manlius, New York, pictured above (center). “I’m thrilled to be here to see the progress and the types of fish species that are now being found in Onondaga Lake.”

On the shores of Onondaga Lake and along the lake’s tributaries, Honeywell has improved nearly 90 acres of wetlands, and is planting about 1.1 million plants, trees, and shrubs.

Since the formation of the Corps, 20 events have brought together more than 800 volunteers who have become environmental stewards and Corps members. In recognition of their work, the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps was awarded a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 2015 Environmental Champion Award.

The Corps is an expanding organization of volunteers who are contributing to restoration projects that are creating or improving wildlife habitat in the Onondaga Lake watershed. It was created to inspire future stewards of Onondaga Lake through a hands-on, experience-based program that offers citizens and organizations the opportunity to participate in activities that help restore and sustain Onondaga Lake and its value as an Important Bird Area.

The Corps was founded in 2012 by Honeywell in partnership with Montezuma Audubon Center and Onondaga Audubon Society. Additional Corps supporters include Anchor QEA, Audubon New York, Bond Schoeneck & King, Habitat Gardening in Central New York, OBG, Parsons and State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry.

To learn more about the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps, visit http://ny.audubon.org/OLCC, www.facebook.com/onondagalakecc or www.youtube.com/onondagalakecc. For more information on the Onondaga Lake cleanup, visit www.lakecleanup.com.

View more photographs of the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps.

Nearly 400 Central New Yorkers viewed images of birds and other wildlife at the “Nature’s Resurgence at Onondaga Lake” photography exhibit March 24-25. The images taken by local photographers show the diverse range of species that have returned to recently restored and enhanced areas along the Onondaga Lake shoreline. The Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps hosted the exhibit in partnership with Audubon New York and Honeywell.

Left: “Happy Warbler” by John DeNicola.
Right: “Bon Appétit” by John Savage.

“Onondaga Lake is a story of conservation success that the entire community can be proud of,” said Chris Lajewski, center director, Montezuma Audubon Center. “Thanks to the hard work and commitment to conservation by Honeywell, Onondaga County, the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps, and hundreds of community volunteers, Onondaga Lake continues to thrive as an Important Bird Area that is home to songbirds, waterfowl, and birds of prey throughout the year. We are proud to showcase these amazing images that were captured by dedicated nature photographers who help us tell the story of nature’s resurgence at Onondaga Lake.”

Onondaga Lake became a priority Audubon Important Bird Area (IBA) in 1998 and was subsequently adopted by Honeywell, Montezuma Audubon Center, and Onondaga Audubon Society because of its value to waterfowl and bald eagles during the winter months. The IBA program is a bird conservation initiative that connects local communities to environmental stewardship and helps to improve the quality of habitat for birds and other wildlife.

This year’s exhibit featured seven local photographers pictured left to right (front row): Cheryl Lloyd, Michele Neligan, and Phillip Bonn; (back row): Greg Craybas, Diana Whiting, and John DeNicola. Not pictured: John Savage.

View photographs that were on display at the exhibit.

“Onondaga Lake has become a destination for humans and wildlife alike. The trail system has brought the people and the wetland restoration has brought the wildlife,” said John Savage, a local photographer who exhibited at the event. “It is amazing to see our national bird, the bald eagle, soaring in the skies and perching in the trees along the lakeshore. It’s a balance of man and nature that should be both celebrated and guarded.”

Left: “Hooded Merganser” by Greg Craybas.
Right: “Taking Flight” by Diana Whiting.

Visitors met the photographers who captured the images and had an opportunity to look for birds in their natural habitat with experts from the Montezuma Audubon Center and Onondaga Audubon Society.

Left: Barbara Johnson (right), of DeWitt, New York, learns about improvements at Onondaga Lake and nearby tributaries that are providing restored habitat for wildlife from Anne Burnham, a habitat expert from Parsons.
Right: Michele Neligan, a former Onondaga Audubon board member and a photographer exhibiting at the event, helps 10-year-old Ethan Jackson, of Elbridge, New York, use a scope to identify a red-breasted merganser.

Over the course of the two-day event, 20 bird species were spotted including pied-billed grebe and bald eagle.

As part of the Onondaga Lake cleanup, Honeywell has restored about 90 acres of wetlands and about 1.1 million native plants are being planted. The restored wetlands have become home to more than 250 wildlife species. More than 120 unique bird species have been identified in and around Onondaga Lake, including several species categorized as threatened or of special interest in New York State.

The Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps seeks to inspire future stewards of Onondaga Lake and its watershed through a hands-on, experience-based program that offers citizens and organizations the opportunity to participate in activities that help restore and sustain Onondaga Lake and its value as an IBA. Since its formation in 2012, more than 780 community members have participated in Corps events.

To learn more about the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps or participate in future activities, please contact montezuma@audubon.org, visit http://ny.audubon.org/OLCC, or call 315-365-3588. Schools, community groups, local organizations, and individuals are welcome. Like the Corps on Facebook or visit YouTube to learn more.

For more information on the Onondaga Lake cleanup, please visit www.lakecleanup.com.

Ringler is an avid fisherman in his free time and is pictured above holding a largemouth bass caught in Onondaga Lake. He has studied the Onondaga Lake fishery for more than 30 years and is vice provost at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY-ESF).

Ringler discussed improvements at Onondaga Lake and nearby tributaries that are providing restored habitat for fish, birds, invertebrates, and plants, and how research and monitoring will continue to guide improvements to the ecosystem. According to SUNY-ESF, up to 64 species of fish have been recorded in Onondaga Lake, including brown trout, lake sturgeon, and Atlantic salmon.

Left: SUNY-ESF undergraduate research assistant Madison Searles holds a lake sturgeon caught in Onondaga Lake during a SUNY-ESF study in 2016.
Right: A brown trout caught in Onondaga Lake during a SUNY-ESF study in 2017.

Q&A with Dr. Neil Ringler

During the time that you have studied Onondaga Lake, what have you seen happen to the fish population?

SUNY-ESF began studies of Onondaga Lake in 1986. Over the past 30-plus years, we have caught 64 species of fish and typically about 40 species in a given field season. The fish population is very diverse. Over the years it has shifted from a large number of plankton-eating fish, such as gizzard shad, to fish- and aquatic insect-eating species, such as walleye, largemouth bass, and smallmouth bass. This has led to increased public interest in fishing in the lake.

A tiger muskie caught in Onondaga Lake by Anne Burnham as part of her SUNY-ESF research in 2013.

We catch a large number (35 in 2013) of lake sturgeon; the largest we’ve identified measured 71 inches. We also find large brown trout (up to 25 inches) living in the lake about 10 months of the year. SUNY-ESF and Carpenter’s Brook Fish Hatchery have stocked juvenile Atlantic salmon in Nine Mile Creek for the past five years; a few that were caught had grown to nearly 22 inches.

Can you describe SUNY-ESF’s fish program?

Each summer, graduate students conduct a survey of fish species in Onondaga Lake. About 35 graduate students have created thesis projects, and 20 students have collected data. Several graduates are now working on Onondaga Lake’s restoration.

Additionally, about 100 undergraduates have participated aboard our electro-shocker boat or on another research boat. We have recently begun studying the response of fish to newly installed habitat structures, a key component of Honeywell’s lake bottom restoration efforts.

Sixty-two porcupine cribs have been installed in Onondaga Lake. A porcupine crib is a fish habitat structure that provides shelter and feeding opportunities for small fish.

One major finding of the program is the expansion of underwater vegetation from only five species in the 1980s to at least 23 species today.

More than 80 percent of near-shore areas are covered by plants, compared to about 5 percent in 1986. We see a larger population of invertebrates, such as damselflies, in these areas. We expect invertebrate numbers and diversity to increase as a result of the lake cleanup and new lake bottom.

Atlantic salmon are now seen in the lake. What does that say about the lake’s health, and are there other species that have returned that you are surprised to see?

This is a result of the improvement in Onondaga Lake’s water quality. Atlantic salmon were historically the only native salmon species found in Onondaga Lake; their return represents a great accomplishment made possible by the many enhancements made to the ecosystem.

Several bird species utilizing newly restored wetlands along Onondaga Lake’s western shoreline.

Honeywell has created or restored nearly 90 acres of wetlands in the lake and nearby tributaries. How do these improved habitat conditions help support a healthy fishery? 

In addition to contributing to improved water quality, wetlands provide valuable feeding and spawning habitat for a variety of species. We are envisioning that the restored wetlands will assist with the continued recovery of northern pike, which are present in the lake in large sizes already.

The Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps has been involved in restoring some of the wetlands by building bird boxes and participating in other conservation efforts. What can the community do to continue to support the lake improvements? 

The most important thing is for the community to go out there and enjoy the lake – sail, fish, hike, bird watch, and chase butterflies. There are few examples nationwide of a major city adjacent to a marvelous waterbody like Onondaga Lake, and it represents literally thousands of years of vital human history of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy.

The cooperation among SUNY-ESF faculty, students, the Syracuse community, and Honeywell has been a phenomenal success story. We were happy that early studies at SUNY-ESF helped to guide some of the shoreline restoration plans. The sophistication of the dredging and capping program is a textbook case study in tackling a difficult, centuries-long problem. The current lake monitoring work is important to help ensure that the recovery is documented in a fashion that will be useful to solving future comparable environmental problems worldwide.

About the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps

The Corps seeks to inspire future stewards of Onondaga Lake and its watershed through a hands-on, experience-based program that offers citizens and organizations the opportunity to participate in activities that help restore and sustain Onondaga Lake and its value as an Important Bird Area.

Partners of the Corps include Audubon New York, Montezuma Audubon Center, Onondaga Audubon Society, Parsons, OBG, Anchor QEA, Bond Schoeneck & King, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Habitat Gardening in Central New York, and Honeywell.

To learn more about the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps or participate in future activities, please contact montezuma@audubon.org, visit http://ny.audubon.org/OLCC, or call 315-365-3588. Schools, community groups, local organizations, and individuals are welcome. Like the Corps on Facebook or visit YouTube to learn more.

For more information on the Onondaga Lake cleanup, visit www.lakecleanup.com.

View more photographs of the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps.

Watch a video to learn about habitat restored as a part of the Onondaga Lake cleanup.

Onondaga Lake is well on its way to becoming a sustainable ecosystem for generations to come. Through thoughtful planning and input from local scientists, wetland ecologists, and the community, as well as government oversight, dynamic and diverse wetlands are becoming the cornerstone of a renewed watershed.

Access more information about the habitat enhancements.

Today, the water quality in Onondaga Lake is the best it’s been in more than 100 years. A green corridor now extends from the restored areas to the lake, providing a diverse home for wildlife.  More than 250 wildlife species, some that have not been seen in decades, are now calling these areas home, and more than 120 unique bird species have been identified in and around Onondaga Lake, a priority Audubon Important Bird Area. Bird species on New York State’s threatened list, including pied-billed grebe, northern harrier, and bald eagle, have returned to the re-established wetlands.

Monitoring and maintenance will continue for years to come to ensure vegetation is established and returning wildlife is documented. Monitoring also helps identify invasive species so they can be removed.

In addition to the cleanup, in April 2017, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced a plan for 20 new projects to restore and protect wildlife habitat and water quality, and increase recreational opportunities.

The Onondaga Lake Cleanup Plan was issued in 2005 by DEC and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The cleanup, which was completed in 2016, included dredging 2.2 million cubic yards of lake material and capping 475 acres of lake bottom. The cap, which consists of natural materials, provides a new, clean lake bottom and a new habitat layer to promote underwater vegetation growth and fish spawning.

For more information on the Onondaga Lake cleanup, visit www.lakecleanup.com.

View photographs of the Onondaga Lake cleanup.

Click here for a pdf of the Habitat Report.

Nearly 600 Central New Yorkers viewed images of birds taken by local wildlife photographers at the “Images of a Restored Habitat” bird photography exhibit on March 25-26. The exhibit highlighted the diverse range of bird species that have returned to recently restored areas along the Onondaga Lake shoreline. The Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps hosted the exhibit in partnership with Audubon New York and Honeywell.

Left: “Fish Fry” by Greg Craybas
Right: “Cardinal” by Phillip Bonn

“Onondaga Lake was named an Important Bird Area because it provides critical habitat for migratory and overwintering species of the Atlantic Flyway,” said Erin Crotty, Executive Director, Audubon New York. “Thanks to the cleanup and restoration efforts of Onondaga County, Honeywell, the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps, and the Syracuse community, a variety of bird species can once again depend on Onondaga Lake for year-round nesting, breeding, and stopover habitat. Thank you to the event photographers for sharing their talents with us and allowing us to showcase the significant role Onondaga Lake plays in the Atlantic Flyway.”

Onondaga Lake became a priority Audubon Important Bird Area (IBA) in 1998 and was subsequently adopted by Honeywell, Montezuma Audubon Center, and Onondaga Audubon Society because of its value to waterfowl and Bald Eagles during the winter months. The IBA is a bird conservation initiative that connects local communities to environmental stewardship and helps to improve the quality of habitat for birds and other wildlife.

This year’s exhibit featured 11 local photographers, more than any other year. The photographers pictured left to right (front row): John DeNicola, Michele Neligan, Cheryl Lloyd, Carol Keeler, (back row): Warren Wheeler, Tom Lloyd, Phillip Bonn and Diana Whiting. Not pictured: Greg Craybas, Jonathan Kresge and John Savage.

View photographs that were on display at the exhibit.

“The restoration of Onondaga Lake has transformed the shoreline into an unrecognizable wetland that people and wildlife have not seen before,” said Greg Craybas, a photographer exhibiting at the event. “With the opportunity to photograph birds and waterfowl on Onondaga Lake, it is sure to become a key destination for photographers for years to come.”

Left: “Red-tailed Hawk Take Off” by Diana Whiting
Right: “White-throated Sparrow” by John DeNicola

Visitors met the photographers who captured the images and had an opportunity to look for birds in their natural habitat with experts from the Montezuma Audubon Center and Onondaga Audubon Society. Left: Joe Kondratowicz, of Camillus, New York, helps his daughter Aeryn use binoculars to identify bird species. Right: Michele Neligan (left), a former Onondaga Audubon board member and a photographer exhibiting at the event, helps Peg Arinsen, of North Syracuse, New York, use a scope to identify a Red-breasted Merganser.

As part of the Onondaga Lake cleanup, Honeywell is planting about 1.1 million plants, shrubs, and trees in the Onondaga Lake watershed. To date, more than 70 acres of wetlands have been restored and more than 180 species of birds, fish, and other wildlife have returned to restored habitat near the lake. More than 80 unique bird species have been identified in and around Onondaga Lake, including several species categorized as threatened or of special interest in New York State. Pied-billed Grebe, Northern Harrier, and Bald Eagle are among the notable bird species that have returned.

The Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps seeks to inspire future stewards of Onondaga Lake and its watershed through a hands-on, experience-based program that offers citizens and organizations the opportunity to participate in activities that help restore and sustain Onondaga Lake and its value as an IBA. Since its formation in 2012, more than 650 community members have participated in Corps planting events.

To learn more about the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps or participate in future activities, please contact montezuma@audubon.org or call 315-365-3588. Schools, community groups, local organizations and individuals are welcome. Like the Corps on Facebook or visit YouTube to learn more.

For more information on the Onondaga Lake cleanup, please visit www.lakecleanup.com.

Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps Hosts Event Including Bald Eagle Walk

More than 120 community members joined the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps last Saturday at “Restoring the Bald Eagle: A 40-Year Journey,” a presentation by Mike Allen, a retired wildlife technician and biologist involved with the Bald Eagle program in New York State. After the presentation, Onondaga Audubon Society members led a birding walk along the Onondaga Creekwalk.

Left: Sammie and Mark Bremer, of Manlius, New York, use binoculars to spot birds. Several Bald Eagles were spotted along the shoreline. Right: Sue Fillinger, of Pompey, New York, uses a scope to identify a Great Black-backed Gull.

The Conservation Corps encourages the public to become stewards of Onondaga Lake and educates them about its value as an Audubon Important Bird Area. More than 650 community volunteers have helped restore 74 acres of wetlands, creating a home for more than 180 wildlife species.

Below are key questions addressed by Mike Allen.

Please describe the New York State Bald Eagle Restoration Project.

The Bald Eagle Restoration Project was founded in 1976 to re-establish a Bald Eagle population in New York State. Over a 13-year period, 198 nestling Bald Eagles were collected from Alaska and Midwest states, transported, and then released in New York.

The project was a first of its kind in the country. It included raising and releasing young birds that were either hatched in captivity or taken from wild nests, and then “fostered.” These birds were then placed in the last known active nest in New York State (south of Rochester) with the hope that they would be accepted by adults and raised as if they were their own.

Caption: A young Bald Eagle, hatched in captivity, before it is fostered in a nest.
Photo provided by Mike Allen.

What was the impact of the project?

When the project got underway in 1976 there was one active Bald Eagle nest in all of New York State.

Today, there are about 300 active nesting areas across the state. Two to three dozen Bald Eagles regularly spend the winter at Onondaga Lake.

What attracts so many Bald Eagles to Onondaga Lake during the winter?

The primary attraction is the open water that is present at the south end of the lake. During cold winters, Bald Eagles congregate around this warm water discharge with the hopes of finding a meal.

Left: A Bald Eagle flies over Onondaga Lake. Right: Bald Eagles congregate near the mouth of Onondaga Creek. Photos by Greg Craybas.

Is it common to see a large number of Bald Eagles in an urbanized area?

No, it is not common to see this number of Bald Eagles living in close proximity to people. Data show there has been a remarkable increase in the number of Bald Eagles visiting Onondaga Lake; 79 have been spotted over the past 10 years.

Honeywell has created or restored 74 acres of wetlands in the lake and nearby tributaries. More than 600,000 native plants have been planted in these restored areas. Lake water quality is the best in decades. How do these improved habitat conditions help attract and support Bald Eagles?

Improved habitat results in increased numbers of fish, waterfowl, muskrats and any number of other species. One of the things we’ve seen over the last 41 years is the better the food, the more likely birds, especially young birds, select an area as home.

One of the neat things about Bald Eagles is that they have a habit of coming back to what we would call their natal (home) area, where they were released. As the habitat throughout New York State improves, more areas become attractive to Bald Eagles, including those that are approaching maturity.

Where do the Bald Eagles come from and where do they travel when they aren’t wintering in Central New York?

Typically, by the end of September, young Bald Eagles are moving out on their first season of migration. They may go south, west, and some even go north. Data show that some were seen as far west as Missouri, and as far south as Florida and Alabama.

Caption: A 10-week-old male Bald Eagle that has been tagged with a solar-powered transmitter to capture migration and other data. Photo provided by Mike Allen.

In 1992, a bird left a nest at Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge in late September and by mid-February, it was in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, over 500 air miles away. That was a real eye-opener for all of us, unexpected but very exciting.

What can we learn about the health of our ecosystem with Bald Eagles returning to Onondaga Lake every year?

The more Bald Eagles utilizing Onondaga Lake, the better the environment – that’s a simple answer.

Sadly it took only 10 years from the late 1940s through the 1950s for the Bald Eagle population to take a major hit. Until the problem was identified nobody knew it was happening. We need to keep a focus on Bald Eagle populations and productivity through continued surveys and data collection. The population decrease occurred very rapidly, and if we are not paying attention, there is nothing to stop it from happening again.

Given the resurgence of the lake and surrounding wetlands, would you expect to see a Bald Eagle nest within the next few years?

Only time will tell, or perhaps we could ask the Bald Eagles. Keep looking up!

About the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps

The Corps seeks to inspire future stewards of Onondaga Lake and its watershed through a hands-on, experience-based program that offers citizens and organizations the opportunity to participate in activities that help restore and sustain Onondaga Lake and its value as an Important Bird Area.

Partners of the Corps include Audubon New York, Montezuma Audubon Center, Onondaga Audubon Society, Parsons, OBG, Anchor QEA, Bond Schoeneck & King, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Habitat Gardening in Central New York, and Honeywell.

To learn more about the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps or participate in future activities, please contact montezuma@audubon.org or call 315-365-3588. Schools, community groups, local organizations and individuals are welcome. Like the Corps on Facebook or visit YouTube to learn more.

For more information on the Onondaga Lake cleanup, visit www.lakecleanup.com.

View more photographs of the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps.