Hundreds of Central New Yorkers View Spectacular Images of Birds and Other Returning Wildlife
Dozens of breathtaking images of songbirds, eagles, waterfowl, and other wildlife were on display at Audubon New York’s “Images of a Recovering Onondaga Lake” photography exhibit April 25-26 at the Onondaga Lake Visitors Center. The exhibit provided an opportunity for hundreds of community members to connect to Onondaga Lake through the lenses of local photographers.
Audubon New York and Honeywell organized the exhibit in partnership with theĀ Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps.
![01 "I am amazed at the number of bird species on the Onondaga Lake shoreline," said John Savage, a local photographer exhibiting at the event. "Songbirds, hawks, heron, cormorants, ducks, swan, geese, and yes, even bald eagles. It is one of my favorite spots to photograph birds; as the lake becomes cleaner, more species return." Left: "Beauty in the Tree" by Bob Walker. Right: "Don't Tread on Me" by John Savage.](http://www.lakecleanup.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/013.jpg)
“I am amazed at the number of bird species on the Onondaga Lake shoreline,” said John Savage, a local photographer exhibiting at the event. “Songbirds, hawks, heron, cormorants, ducks, swan, geese, and yes, even bald eagles. It is one of my favorite spots to photograph birds; as the lake becomes cleaner, more species return.” Left: “Beauty in the Tree” by Bob Walker. Right: “Don’t Tread on Me” by John Savage.
![02 "We're so excited to be here, to see these images and to see the rejuvenation of the lake. We grew up here and it is absolutely unbelievable and amazing that in our lifetimes we will see this lake returned to the community as an asset," said Sue and Steve Koegel of Westvale, New York. The couple learns about habitat improvements from Mark Arrigo, Parsons habitat expert, pictured above (right).](http://www.lakecleanup.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/023.jpg)
“We’re so excited to be here, to see these images and to see the rejuvenation of the lake. We grew up here and it is absolutely unbelievable and amazing that in our lifetimes we will see this lake returned to the community as an asset,” said Sue and Steve Koegel of Westvale, New York. The couple learns about habitat improvements from Mark Arrigo, Parsons habitat expert, pictured above (right).
![03](http://www.lakecleanup.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/033.jpg)
“The exhibit highlights the beautiful birds and other wildlife that depend on Onondaga Lake and its watershed while celebrating the impact grass-roots efforts and citizen science monitoring have had on the recovery of this Audubon New York Important Bird Area,” said Erin Crotty, executive director of Audubon New York, pictured above (center) with Chris Lajewski (left), director of the Montezuma Audubon Center, and John McAuliffe, Honeywell Syracuse program director. “Thank you to the exhibit photographers for helping us tell the story of recovery, and thank you to the community, the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps, Onondaga County, and Honeywell for their partnership and commitment to this critical restoration effort.”
![04 The exhibit featured images taken by local photographers (back row, left to right) Michele Neligan, Bob Walker, John Savage, Greg Craybas, (front row, left to right) Duane St. Onge, and Cheryl Lloyd (not pictured: Willson Cummer).](http://www.lakecleanup.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/043.jpg)
The exhibit featured images taken by local photographers (back row, left to right) Michele Neligan, Bob Walker, John Savage, Greg Craybas, (front row, left to right) Duane St. Onge, and Cheryl Lloyd (not pictured: Willson Cummer).
Click to view photographs that were on display at the exhibit.
![05 Left: Audubon experts help visitors view birds on Onondaga Lake. Twenty bird species were identified during the weekend, including bald eagles, belted kingfishers, and red-winged blackbirds (photo taken by Bob Walker). Right: Ellen Paccia, of Marietta, New York, spots a bald eagle using a scope with the help of Chris Lajewski, director of the Montezuma Audubon Center.](http://www.lakecleanup.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/053.jpg)
Left: Audubon experts help visitors view birds on Onondaga Lake. Twenty bird species were identified during the weekend, including bald eagles, belted kingfishers, and red-winged blackbirds (photo taken by Bob Walker). Right: Ellen Paccia, of Marietta, New York, spots a bald eagle using a scope with the help of Chris Lajewski, director of the Montezuma Audubon Center.
![06 Nearly 500 people viewed the exhibit, including a visitor from as far as St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada.](http://www.lakecleanup.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/062.jpg)
Nearly 500 people viewed the exhibit, including a visitor from as far as St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada.
Habitat restoration is key to a healthy, sustainable Onondaga Lake. Habitat improvements enhance the quality and diversity of habitat and improve water quality. Improvements create a sustainable system, resulting in healthier ecosystems for fish and wildlife while improving the diversity and abundance of species.
Honeywell is planting about 1.1 million plants, shrubs, and trees to enhance habitat for fish and wildlife. To date, 44 acres of wetlands have been restored at Geddes Brook, Harbor Brook, Nine Mile Creek, and the former LCP Chemicals site, and along Onondaga Lake’s western shoreline. And over 320,000 native plants have been planted.
More than 110 species of fish, birds, and mammals have returned to the restored wetlands and nearby areas, including mink, beaver, wild turkey, bald eagles, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, snapping turtles, pied-billed grebe, great heron, osprey, brown trout, and sunfish. Onondaga Lake became an Important Bird Area in 1998 and was subsequently co-adopted by Montezuma Audubon Center, Onondaga Audubon Society, and Honeywell because of its value to waterfowl.
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 Important Bird Area. Since its formation in 2012, more than 500 community members have participated in Corps events. Founding partners of the Corps include Audubon New York, Montezuma Audubon Center, Onondaga Audubon Society, Parsons, O’Brien & Gere, 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.