They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and it’s easy to see why. Around the state, the power of photography and compelling images of the birds we work to protect capture the hearts of longstanding members and volunteers, and brand new nature lovers alike.
The Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary & Audubon Center on Cove Road in Oyster Bay, NY hosted the National Audubon Society’s 2017 Traveling Photography Awards show from February 15th – March 5th. There were 12 winning prints on display for visitors to enjoy. These impressive photos brought in old and a new visitors alike, including a former employee of the Sanctuary, who worked as an Environmental Educator in the 80's, as well as several former volunteers. School groups visiting the Sanctuary were also able to enjoy the photo show. The children were captivated and had many questions, which offered valuable teaching moments. One of the winning photographs was of an American Oystercatcher and was taken on Long Island at one of our monitoring sites. It was great to let people know that these beautiful birds truly are right in your own backyard! All of the visitors in the past few weeks enjoyed the sanctuary for what it is: a peaceful spot to feel at home and enjoy nature.
Several Audubon Chapters have also showcased the traveling Audubon Photography Awards exhibit. If you live near NY’s capital region, you can view the exhibit during the month of April at the Kelly Adirondack Center in Niskayuna. There are several public programs scheduled around the 3-week exhibit, hosted by Audubon Society of the Capital Region. Details here!
In Central New York, nearly 400 people 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. 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.
"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."
Below are some of the photos featured at the Onondaga Lake 2018 exhibit:
