Oneida Lake Education Initiative

"Your gateway to understanding Oneida Lake"

Birds

Oneida Lake supports thousands of waterfowl and other birds throughout the year, hosting migrating and resident species alike. Scores of bird species nest near the lake to take advantage of the fish, insects, crayfish, mollusks, and vegetation it provides.

Ospreys, kingfishers, and various herons are among the less common birds that fish in the lake through the summer months. Bald eagles can often be observed along the shore or on the ice. Wantry, Long, and Little Islands, south of Constantia, are designated an “important bird area” by the Audubon Society of New York. These isles are home to five different species of colonial nesting birds, which migrate to the lake annually to breed.

Colonial water birds are generally long-lived species that nest in large groups for better defense against predators and to increase feeding efficiency. Oneida Lake’s colonial water birds are top predators in the food web, and generally feed on fish and crayfish.

To learn more about Oneida Lake Birds...

Bald Eagle, Common Tern, Gulls, Double-Crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Osprey, Swallows

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