Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps Showcases Images of Wildlife Returning to Onondaga Lake
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.
“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.
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.”
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.
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.