Crow visits, water quality, and lake-effect snow

Finger Lakes Institute plans four events on various topics during February

The annual infestation of crows in the city, the quality of the water that fills Seneca Lake and the impact of lake-effect snowstorms are among the topics to be explored this month by the Finger Lakes Institute, on the campus of Hobart and William Smith Colleges. Registration is requested by calling ext. 4382 or e-mailing FLI.

• On Monday, Feb. 11, Assistant Professor of Geoscience Neil F. Laird will speak on "Lake-Effect Snows associated with Small and Large Lakes," starting at 7 p.m. in the FLI Classroom. His talk is co-sponsored by the Geneva Chapter of Sigma Xi, the scientific research society.

Lake-effect snowstorms can significantly raise annual snowfall totals, especially in regions near lake shorelines. These storms have been responsible for snowfalls of greater than 100 inches at locations during a multi-day period, an amount which is nearly equivalent to the average amount of snow received over an entire winter.

Laird's talk will present results from scientific investigations that extend understanding of lake-effect snowstorms to small lake environments and situations when lakes are extensively ice covered. An examination of Lake Erie lake-effect snow that developed over extensive ice cover and recent analyses of data collected during the Great Lakes Ice Cover-Atmospheric Flux field project will be discussed.

• On Tuesday, Feb. 19, Professor of Geoscience John Halfman will discuss the "Water Quality of Seneca Lake and other central Finger Lakes," beginning at 6:30 p.m., also in the FLI Classroom.

Because water quality is critical to the wellbeing of the residents in the Finger Lakes region, since 2005, Halfman and students at these Colleges have completed monthly water quality monitoring of seven central Finger Lakes. In this talk, Halfman will discuss the results of his monitoring efforts from the 2007 field season, offer explanations of data, and present the past decade of research on Seneca Lake and its major tributaries.

• The annual visit by thousands of crows will be discussed by a panel beginning at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 28 in the Geneva Room. Offering "A Discussion of Perspectives: Crow Roosting in the Finger Lakes Region," will be Mary Hess; Instructor of English; Kevin McGowan of the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology; Gordon Eddington, director of public works for the City of Geneva; and Rita Sarnicola, representing Citizens Respectful Of Wildlife.

Associate Professor of Biology Mark Deutschlander will be the moderator.

Panelists will look at the annual winter visitation of crows to the shoreline communities of the Finger Lakes, and how attitudes have changed over time in regard to the ecological and cultural value and management of the birds. Audience members will gain insight of the unique biological characteristics and historic cultural value of this species. In addition, common options considered for their management by the City of Geneva will be discussed, and an example of community activism to encourage respect and appreciation of wildlife will also be presented.

Posters from the students of Deutschlander's First-Year Seminar, Bird Obsession: Beauty of the Beast, will be on display highlighting the biology of crows, their role in myths and cultures from around the world, and pervasiveness of crows in literature and art.