Syracuse.com - Should Onondaga Lake duck hunting be banned near bald eagle hot spot?

[HuntingNY-News]

"We (the duck hunters) are following the law," Falkowski said. "If bird watching enthusiasts want to watch the eagles, that's all fine and dandy, but let us enjoy our sport, too."

A local wildlife photographer has suggested that duck hunting on Onondaga Lake should be banned in an area where bald eagles congregate this time of year.

Tom Bell, a wildlife biologist at the state Department of Environmental Conservation's Cortland office, said such a hunting ban concerning bald eagles is unprecedented in the state on public waters during the winter months or outside of their spring breeding season.

He noted the hunters who frequent Onondaga Lake are allowed to be there and are doing nothing illegal. He added there have been no reports of bald eagles, which are a protected species, being shot or wounded.

Mark Magistro of Oswego at left and Wayne Fidler of Mexico watch birds at the Inner Harbor late Sunday afternoon. A bald eagle would appear periodically,scaring the gulls and waterfowl.Mike Greenlar | [email protected] 

Syracuse dentist Greg Craybas was out on the lake's southeast shore last weekend photographing eagles at the spot where the city of Syracuse's waste treatment plant discharges water into the lake. The water from the discharge pipe is warmer than the lake water and keeps the area free of ice. Migrating ducks and geese congregate there.

So do the eagles.

"The bald eagles of Onondaga Lake are back," Craybas said. "I counted 14 eagles this past weekend."

Craybas, who recently made news with his eye-opening photos of snowy owls at Hancock International Airport, takes great pains to get unique, close-up photographs. He said he was at the Onondaga Lake site near the discharge pipe dressed in camouflage clothing and walked away with some good photos of the birds.

He noted that currently, "the outlet for the water treatment area is the only spot where there is open water. There were two young men that were duck hunting in this tight and compact area. It makes no sense to hunt in the feeding water on the lake for bald eagles," he said.

"I am quite sure they would never shoot an eagle, but the noise of their shotguns and the absence of ducks in this small area will most likely push the eagles out of this incredible area to view our national symbol for all to view," he said. "If there are no ducks in the open area of the lake, then there is no food for the eagles to feed upon.

"With so many lakes in the area, a little common sense would be most welcome. It is OK to hunt, but not here."

Ron Falkowski, president of the Central New York Wildfowlers, pointed out the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, which has its share of bald eagles, allows duck hunting. He also noted duck hunting is allowed in the Perch River area near Clayton, where numerous bald eagles also congregate.

"We (the duck hunters) are following the law," he said. "If bird watching enthusiasts want to watch the eagles, that's all fine and dandy, but let us enjoy our sport, too."

He noted most of the time during the hunting season the lake is unfrozen or only partially frozen and the eagles and the hunters are scattered more along the lake's shoreline.

At this point, there is no official or designated viewing site to observe the bald eagles on Onondaga Lake. Some bird watching enthusiasts gather at the nearby Creek Walk in the lake's Inner Harbor area in hopes of seeing the birds. Craybas concedes he had to "jump a fence, walk down the railroad tracks and walk the shoreline" to get to the spot near the sewage discharge pipe.

Duck hunting on Onondaga Lake has been going on for decades. Former Syracuse mayor and congressman Bill Walsh, and Bob Gerace, the former Onondaga County Parks commissioner have been among those who've taken part in the sport.

Male hooded mergansers with raised crest swim in the Inner Harbor late Sunday afternoon.Mike Greenlar | [email protected] 

The DEC oversees duck hunting in the state and has divided up the state into several zones. Onondaga Lake is the Western Zone and the late duck hunting season for that area began Dec. 28 and ends this Sunday (Jan. 12).

Duck hunters access Onondaga Lake by boat or canoe at two locations: the unofficial boat launch site near the Solvay exit off Route 690 where the Honeywell building is located, and at the Onondaga County park launch site across the lake in Liverpool. The Solvay site, which is near the state Fairgrounds, is actually on land owned by the state Department of Transportation. There's no charge to launch there.

Those launching their boats at the Liverpool launch are charged $7 and leave their money in an honor box. Hunters launching there are also required to keep their firearms out of sight and unloaded as they go out and return from hunting.

Craybas said after spotting the hunters near the discharge pipe he called the DEC and was told the hunters were within their rights to hunt there. Duck and goose hunting regulations differ from hunting other game in that one does not have to more than 500 feet away from a building to discharge a firearm. As long as they're shooting over open water, hunters can have a structure right at their back - or be in boat or canoe offshore.

Duck hunters use shotguns and are required to use non-lead shot which falls into the water after traveling a little more than 100 yards.

In recent years, duck hunters who legally set up near residential areas on the northern shore near Liverpool and Onondaga Park have prompted angry complaints from residents. As a result, the hunters, not wishing to cause problems or get negative publicity, limit their activities to the uninhabited shore on the lake's other side.

Bell said Onondaga Lake is the only location where birders and duck hunters are at odds. He noted bird watching enthusiasts at the southern end of Cayuga Lake have posted comments informally online calling for the banning of duck hunting there because they claim it's impacting their annual Christmas bird count.

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog