ONONDAGA LAKE CONSERVATION CORPS HOLDING BIRDING EXCURSION

Bald Eagle soaring over Onondaga Lake. Photo: Greg Craybas

SYRACUSE, NY (December 30, 2022) – Join the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps on Saturday, January 21, 2023 from 10 AM – 12 PM for a half-mile excursion along the shore of Onondaga Lake to explore newly restored habitats that attract thousands of waterfowl, dozens of Bald Eagles, and other wildlife during the winter months. Participants will learn from Montezuma Audubon Center and Onondaga Audubon staff and volunteers about birds, wildlife and the importance of wetlands in supporting the Onondaga Lake watershed.

Onondaga Lake is an Audubon Important Bird Area that provides habitat, food and water sources that many bird species depend upon for survival during the cold winter months. Some of the most abundant bird species that rely on Onondaga Lake are the Bald Eagle, Common Merganser, American Black Duck, Greater Scaup, Lesser Scaup, Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead, Hooded Merganser, Mallard, Redhead, and Ring-necked Duck.

“Onondaga Lake is home to the largest Bald Eagle roost in New York,” said Chris Lajewski, director of the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps and Montezuma Audubon Center. “The resurgence of the Bald Eagle and Onondaga Lake as a community asset is a testament to conservation efforts that have restored habitats for birds, other wildlife and people in Central New York.”

The walk will be along a flat, paved trail that might be snow covered. Binoculars, spotting scopes and field guides will be provided.

The event will begin at the Onondaga Creekwalk trail under Hiawatha Blvd. near Destiny USA in Syracuse, NY. Space is limited and registration is required. Register at https://act.audubon.org/a/onondaga-lake-conservation-corps-bald-eagle-program-january-21-2023. Call 315.365.3588 or email montezuma@audubon.org with questions.

The event fee is $10/person, $30/family.

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The 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.

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, Anchor QEA, RES, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Central New York Community Foundation and Jim and Juli Boeheim Foundation.

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.instagram.com/onondagalakecc, www.youtube.com/onondagalakecc, or call 315-365-3588.