Community News

Photographers captured their favorite flora, fauna and places for hiking, canoeing, fishing, hunting and wildlife watching in the photographs they submitted to the 2019 Cayuga Naturally Photograph Contest.

The photographs depict the beauty of the streams, lakes, trees, wildflowers, birds, animals and other aspects of nature found in Cayuga County.

The photographs from the 2019 Cayuga Naturally Photograph Contest are now on exhibit at the Sterling Nature Center. They will remain on exhibit into 2020. From the entries submitted the judges selected one-first place, two-second place, three-third place and ten honorable mentions.

The Sterling Nature Center’s 2019 Cayuga Naturally Photograph Contest results:

1st Place

• Susan DiCriscio, Oswego The Stalker, Sterling Nature Center

2nd Place

• Joe Carey, Syracuse Painted Lady on Goldenrod, Sterling Nature Center
• Linda Dugan, Alden Guarding the Nest, Aurora

3rd Place

• Nathan Crego, Martville The Falls, Martville
• Judy Chillson, Martville Swans, Fair Haven Pond
• Jennifer Crego, Martville Light in the Forest, Martville

Honorable Mention

• Joe Carey, Syracuse Belted Kingfisher along Lake Ontario, SNC
• Wyatt Kyle, Liverpool Lonely Bird, SNC
• Judy Chillson, Martville On Golden Pond, Fair Haven
• Susan DiCriscio, Oswego The Perch, SNC
• Joe Carey, Syracuse Hoverfly on a Flower, SNC
• Nathan Crego, Martville Butterfly, Martville
• Linda Dugan, Alden Preparing for Migration, Aurora
• Linda Dugan, Alden Return to the Nest, Aurora
• Susan DiCriscio, Oswego Blue-grey Gnatcatcher, SNC
• Judy Chillson, Martville Rays, Martville

The Sterling Nature Center’s upcoming events:

Owl Prowl

• Friday November 15 at 7pm
• Saturday November 16 at 7pm
• Discover how owls rule the night while we explore owl adaptations, hunting skills, where they roost and how to identify their calls. The program will start with a discussion inside, followed by a night hike in search of owls. The program is free and open to the public.

Gift Shop Holiday Open House

• Saturday November 30, 10am - 3pm
• The Friends of Sterling Nature Center will have special today only offers in conjunction with small business Saturday. There are many holiday gifts for the nature lover and the hard to buy for. Sterling Nature Center sweatshirts, hoodies and ornaments with great blue herons on them as well as books, toys and nick-knacks will be available. There may even be some hot cider and cookies.

Year’s End Hike

• Tuesday December 31 at 1pm
• What better way to end the year than with a hike along the trails of the Sterling Nature Center to see how the wildlife is celebrating the coming of a new year or more likely preparing for the winter weather ahead. Snowshoes will be available if needed.