Recent News

Onondaga County Executive Opens New Deep Water Fishing Pier at Onondaga Lake

Onondaga County Executive Opens New Deep Water Fishing Pier at Onondaga Lake

Get Involved

Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps

To learn more about the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps or participate in future activities, please contact Chris Lajewski at montezuma@audubon.org or call 315-365-3588.

Home » Gallery "Southwest Lakeshore"

Photos & Videos: Southwest Lakeshore

Juvenile Barn Swallows perch on a nesting box installed in wetlands by the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps. The Barn Swallows will soon start their migration south for the winter.

July 2019 - Juvenile Barn Swallows perch on a nesting box installed in wetlands by the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps. The Barn Swallows will soon start their migration south for the winter.
Botanist Joe McMullen (center) guides participants in an Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps citizen science event through wetland areas identifying plant species. The taller tree is a red maple. A smaller American sycamore is bottom right.

October 2018 - Botanist Joe McMullen (center) guides participants in an Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps citizen science event through wetland areas identifying plant species. The taller tree is a red maple. A smaller American sycamore is bottom right.
Izaak Walton League of America’s Young Naturalist Leadership Team (YNLT) member Kate Abbott (center) and other Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps volunteers make seed bags for wetlands.

October 2018 - Izaak Walton League of America’s Young Naturalist Leadership Team (YNLT) member Kate Abbott (center) and other Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps volunteers make seed bags for wetlands.
Seed bags contain small stones, topsoil and pickerelweed seeds placed in biodegradable burlap bags. Stones weigh down the bags to keep them on the lake bottom.

October 2018 - Seed bags contain small stones, topsoil and pickerelweed seeds placed in biodegradable burlap bags. Stones weigh down the bags to keep them on the lake bottom.
From a rock berm, sisters Evie (left) and Autumn Keefe, of Syracuse, throw seed bags into shallow water nearby. The target depth for pickerelweed seed bags is 6 inches to 2 feet of water.

October 2018 - From a rock berm, sisters Evie (left) and Autumn Keefe, of Syracuse, throw seed bags into shallow water nearby. The target depth for pickerelweed seed bags is 6 inches to 2 feet of water.
A seed bag tossed by Joe Hansen, of Liverpool, splashes into wetlands along the southwest shoreline.

October 2018 - A seed bag tossed by Joe Hansen, of Liverpool, splashes into wetlands along the southwest shoreline.
Janna Keefe and daughter Evie work on the scavenger hunt inventorying plant species.

October 2018 - Janna Keefe and daughter Evie work on the scavenger hunt inventorying plant species.
Autumn Keefe observes the texture and other characteristics of a cattail seed pod during the scavenger hunt.

October 2018 - Autumn Keefe observes the texture and other characteristics of a cattail seed pod during the scavenger hunt.
Matt McDonough (left) and Jim Molloy, with Parsons, pull a seine net to shore while YNLT member Candace Shermerhorn captures small fish in a bucket for observation.

October 2018 - Matt McDonough (left) and Jim Molloy, with Parsons, pull a seine net to shore while YNLT member Candace Shermerhorn captures small fish in a bucket for observation.
Volunteers note size, number and species of fish seen during the citizen science monitoring event.

October 2018 - Volunteers note size, number and species of fish seen during the citizen science monitoring event.
Species found Saturday morning include Banded Killifish (seen here), Emerald shiner, Brown Bullhead, Largemouth Bass and Rock Bass.

October 2018 - Species found Saturday morning include Banded Killifish (seen here), Emerald shiner, Brown Bullhead, Largemouth Bass and Rock Bass.
Bird 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.

September 2018 - Bird 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.
Bridget Sunkes, of East Syracuse, with children Eleanor and Holden, by the bird nesting box they helped build and place in restored habitat near Onondaga Lake.

September 2018 - Bridget Sunkes, of East Syracuse, with children Eleanor and Holden, by the bird nesting box they helped build and place in restored habitat near Onondaga Lake.
New bluebird nesting boxes are installed near Harbor Brook along the southwest shoreline of Onondaga Lake. The Eastern Bluebird population has been increasing again according to Audubon, helped by the installation of bird boxes.

September 2018 - New bluebird nesting boxes are installed near Harbor Brook along the southwest shoreline of Onondaga Lake. The Eastern Bluebird population has been increasing again according to Audubon, helped by the installation of bird boxes.
Mary Giehl and Greg Boyer, of Syracuse, with an assembled bluebird nesting box. According to Audubon, the Eastern Bluebird, state bird of New York, has declined in many areas due in part to loss of nesting sites.

September 2018 - Mary Giehl and Greg Boyer, of Syracuse, with an assembled bluebird nesting box. According to Audubon, the Eastern Bluebird, state bird of New York, has declined in many areas due in part to loss of nesting sites.
Haley O’Brien (right) helps six-year-old Holden Sunkes assemble a bird box. Nesting boxes were provided by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and FORCES (Friends of Recreation, Conservation and Environmental Stewardship).

September 2018 - Haley O’Brien (right) helps six-year-old Holden Sunkes assemble a bird box. Nesting boxes were provided by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and FORCES (Friends of Recreation, Conservation and Environmental Stewardship).
Jeffrey (left) and Peter Wang, of Manlius, assemble a bluebird nesting box on the deck at the Onondaga Lake Visitors Center.

September 2018 - Jeffrey (left) and Peter Wang, of Manlius, assemble a bluebird nesting box on the deck at the Onondaga Lake Visitors Center.
Shannon Fabiani, with the Young Naturalists Leadership Team, works together with Paul Marconi (right), Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps member, to build a new nesting box.

September 2018 - Shannon Fabiani, with the Young Naturalists Leadership Team, works together with Paul Marconi (right), Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps member, to build a new nesting box.
Forty-three volunteers gathered at the Onondaga Lake Visitors Center and along the shoreline to build and install nesting boxes on Saturday, September 29. Eleanor Sunkes, 3, decorates a bird box held by Barbara Kamerance of Central Square as Eleanor’s mom looks on.

September 2018 - Forty-three volunteers gathered at the Onondaga Lake Visitors Center and along the shoreline to build and install nesting boxes on Saturday, September 29. Eleanor Sunkes, 3, decorates a bird box held by Barbara Kamerance of Central Square as Eleanor’s mom looks on.
Two habitat experts use a seine net, moving parallel to the southwest shoreline, to capture fish and other creatures for identification.

May 2018 - Two habitat experts use a seine net, moving parallel to the southwest shoreline, to capture fish and other creatures for identification.
Binoculars and a spotting scope are tools used to help identify water bird species out on the lake.

May 2018 - Binoculars and a spotting scope are tools used to help identify water bird species out on the lake.
Thirty-eight community members with the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps took part in habitat restoration along the southwest shoreline on a Saturday morning.

June 2017 - Thirty-eight community members with the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps took part in habitat restoration along the southwest shoreline on a Saturday morning.
An environmental engineer with Parsons, Natalia Cagide-Elmer, explains proper planting procedures and goals for the day.

June 2017 - An environmental engineer with Parsons, Natalia Cagide-Elmer, explains proper planting procedures and goals for the day.
A group heads out to record bird species in the area. With guidance from Onondaga Audubon Society, Corps volunteers identified 29 unique bird species. Many notable species were sighted including Chimney Swift, Veery, and Osprey.

June 2017 - A group heads out to record bird species in the area. With guidance from Onondaga Audubon Society, Corps volunteers identified 29 unique bird species. Many notable species were sighted including Chimney Swift, Veery, and Osprey.
First-time Corps volunteer Ellen DuPree (foreground), of Fayetteville, separates individual fowl mannagrass plugs from a tray.

June 2017 - First-time Corps volunteer Ellen DuPree (foreground), of Fayetteville, separates individual fowl mannagrass plugs from a tray.
Native species planted include a mix of wetland plants suitable for supporting a wide diversity of wildlife.

June 2017 - Native species planted include a mix of wetland plants suitable for supporting a wide diversity of wildlife.
Volunteers install approximately 700 herbaceous plants and 240 native trees and shrubs along the southwest shoreline of Onondaga Lake on a Saturday morning.

June 2017 - Volunteers install approximately 700 herbaceous plants and 240 native trees and shrubs along the southwest shoreline of Onondaga Lake on a Saturday morning.
Cobble berms (background) were built in 2016 to reduce wave action along the shoreline, and establish calmer water areas suitable for wetland plants and associated wildlife.

June 2017 - Cobble berms (background) were built in 2016 to reduce wave action along the shoreline, and establish calmer water areas suitable for wetland plants and associated wildlife.

Todd Sealy, of Syracuse, carries an American sycamore tree along the Southwest Lakeshore to a suitable spot. The native American sycamore is often found near rivers and other water sources, and is tolerant to occasional flooding.

June 2017 - Todd Sealy, of Syracuse, carries an American sycamore tree along the Southwest Lakeshore to a suitable spot. The native American sycamore is often found near rivers and other water sources, and is tolerant to occasional flooding.
A cardinalflower is planted in a flooded area along the shoreline. Cardinalflower produces bright red blooms late summer through early fall. Once established, the plant will multiply and fill out the area around it.

June 2017 - A cardinalflower is planted in a flooded area along the shoreline. Cardinalflower produces bright red blooms late summer through early fall. Once established, the plant will multiply and fill out the area around it.
Volunteer Mark Wesel, of North Syracuse, plants a winterberry bush near the water’s edge. Winterberry can provide cover for small animals, nectar for insects, and berries for birds.

June 2017 - Volunteer Mark Wesel, of North Syracuse, plants a winterberry bush near the water’s edge. Winterberry can provide cover for small animals, nectar for insects, and berries for birds.
Between the shoreline and a berm, an area in the water is fenced off to protect young wetland plants to be installed over the next few weeks.

June 2017 - Between the shoreline and a berm, an area in the water is fenced off to protect young wetland plants to be installed over the next few weeks.

A variety of native plants including boneset and speckled alder are planted to create a rich diverse habitat along the Southwest Lakeshore.

June 2017 - A variety of native plants including boneset and speckled alder are planted to create a rich diverse habitat along the Southwest Lakeshore.
Paul Marconi (right), a member of the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps since 2012, spots birds with Onondaga Audubon volunteers Paul Richardson (left) and Michele Neligan.

June 2017 - Paul Marconi (right), a member of the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps since 2012, spots birds with Onondaga Audubon volunteers Paul Richardson (left) and Michele Neligan.