Onondaga Lake Eagles
Quick Bits
Main Activities - Birding
Distance - 2 to 4 miles
Quiet - City noise
Surface - Paved
Elevation - Flat
Pets - Leash
Address - Syracuse, NY
Onondaga Lake Map.jpgTwo of the best viewing areas are at the end of the Creekwalk Trail and the Pedestrian Bridge from the Empire State Trail.
In a Nutshell
In the winter months, Bald Eagle sightings are very common with over 100 bald eagles have been spotted in some of the colder winters. Bald Eagles winter on the southeast portion of Onondaga Lake as the water there is typically unfrozen due to water temps raised by the nearby water treatment plant. Eagles, and many other birds, are often seen from a few viewing areas.
Location and Parking
To see the Bald Eagles, you have several options. It may be worth checking the Onondaga Lake Eagles Facebook Group for most current ideas. My two suggestions are:
Park in the Destiny Mall. I park in the lot to the south of Hiawatha Blvd. and Solar Street. Then just walk parrallel and under Hiawatha to the entrance to the Creekwalk Trail. This would be about a half-mile walk to viewing area. But most of the lots for the Mall have cameras and/or Security. It's been advised not to park under the bridge (the Hiawatha overpass) because cars are isolated and unsupervised.
Along the shore that parallels Interstate 690 is part of the Onondaga Lake Park. There are a few lots there. If you take Exit 7 from 690 and turns toward the lake, you'll see the Honeywell's Onondaga Lake Visitors Center, with a boat launch. If you continue east you'll find additional small lots. From these, you can walk the Empire State Trail to the Pedestrian Bridge that crosses the train tracks and goes into Syracuse. The walk from the Visitor's Center to the Bridge is about 1.5 miles, less if you use one of the other parking lots.
More details
While my trips here have been centered on the Bald Eagles in winter, there is much to do in the area. Focusing on the Bald Eagles, you can see them from the two viewing areas previous mentioned or if getting out of the car is not an option, driving through the Destiny Mall parking lots bordering the eastern shore may give you views of Eagles resting in the trees. They have also been seen in trees along the Creekwalk which runs the from the Lake along the Onondaga Creek, crossing it via Hiawatha Boulevard, into the Inner Harbor, and then farther east into other sections of Syracuse. Bald Eagles, other hawks, water fowl, and other birds have been see in the Inner Harbor.
The Empire State Trail along the shore is more open than the Creekwalk and affords views of the Lake and shorelines. However, that also means when a cold wind is blowing, it's bone chilling. But it does give you a chance to stretch your legs for a while prior, or after, spending an hour or so watching the eagles.
Creatures I've seen or heard
Bald Eagles (of course), American Crows, Hering Gull, Greater Black-backed Gull, Mute Swan, Loon.
Links of Interest
Destiny Mall Eagles Page - very well done.
"Return to Glory" Article from NY State Conservation Magazine on history and clean up of Onondaga Lake
Wander & Ponder Videos Recorded Here
Onondaga Lake Bald Eagles (Ep. 3)