Virtual photography highlights wildlife around Onondaga Lake
Local wildlife photographers will display colorful images of birds and other wildlife taken in recently restored and enhanced areas along the Onondaga Lake shoreline at the “Onondaga Lake: A Community Asset Where Birds and People Thrive” virtual photography exhibit March 6.
The exhibit showcases the diverse range of species including waterfowl, songbirds, birds of prey, and butterflies that have returned to Onondaga Lake. The Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps is hosting the virtual exhibit in partnership with Audubon New York, Honeywell, the Central New York Community Foundation and the Jim and Juli Boeheim Foundation. The free exhibit will take place online and registration is required. Click https://act.audubon.org/a/olcc-photo-exhibit to register.
The exhibit runs Saturday, March 6 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. and features 30 photographs from the following individuals: Cheryl Lloyd, John DeNicola, Joe Fratianni, Nancy Becerra, Steve Ratliff, David Monaghan, Greg Craybas, Joe Carey, Steve Edgerly, Donald Florczyk, Marcia Bower, Carrie Bush, Phillip Bonn, Pete Andrusyszyn, and K. Alice Lindsay. Several of the photographers will speak about the story behind their photographs and why they enjoy taking photographs of Onondaga Lake’s wildlife. Participants will also hear from Anne Burnham, a Senior Scientist with Parsons Corporation, who will discuss the restoration of the lake’s shoreline wetlands, and Alison Kocek, Vice President of Onondaga Audubon, who will talk about the best locations and times of year to view dozens of Bald Eagles and thousands of waterfowl at Onondaga Lake.
The exhibit will kick off the virtual silent auction, featuring the stunning images of Onondaga Lake’s wildlife, to raise funds for the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps.
“Since it was formed in 2012, hundreds of community volunteers have joined the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps as environmental stewards of Onondaga Lake,’” said Chris Lajewski, program director of the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps. “The Corps is 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 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.”
Onondaga Lake became a priority Audubon Important Bird Area (IBA) in 1998 and was subsequently adopted by Honeywell, the Montezuma Audubon Center, and the Onondaga Audubon Society because of its value to thousands of waterfowl and dozens of Bald Eagles during the winter months. The IBA program serves as a catalyst for achieving bird conservation.
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. Two hundred seventy wildlife species are now calling these areas home, and over 130 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 was founded by Honeywell in partnership with the Montezuma Audubon Center and Onondaga Audubon, and is now an Audubon New York program. Additional Corps supporters include Parsons, Ramboll, Anchor QEA, Applied Ecological Services, the Central New York Community Foundation and the Jim and Juli Boeheim Foundation.
To learn more about the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps or participate in future activities, please contact [email protected], 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.
Submitted photo
“Onondaga Lake: A Community Asset Where Birds and People Thrive,” will be a virtual showcase of photography of wildlife around Onondaga Lake.
