SUNY Potsdam

« Back to Recent News

SUNY Potsdam Class Visits Derby Hill Bird Observatory

SUNY Potsdam Students Observe Migrating Birds During Course Trip to Derby Hill Bird Observatory

Potsdam, NY (05/22/2026) — Students in a SUNY Potsdam avian-themed writing course spent the day at the Derby Hill Bird Observatory during a recent spring class tip.

Professor Dr. Harold W. Ellingsen Jr. took seven students in his WAYS 102 seminar course, "Writing is for the Birds," on a field trip to the observatory on April 18. The students included Havana Haldeman-Kayser, Jaeden Miller, Frankie Parada, Alexander Quintero, Emily Sheldon, Peyton Summers and Valentino Yoshee.

"The WAYS 102 courses are designed to help students write effectively in their other university courses. Each one has a particular framing question/issue about which the students are to write. The question for this course is: Why do we watch birds? What's a better way to enhance one's writing about watching birds than there is to do it?" Ellingsen said.

The Derby Hill Bird Observatory is located on the southeastern corner of Lake Ontario, and each spring, thousands of birds can be observed migrating through the area, the most notable species of which are raptors. It is such an important migration area that every day from March 1 to May 31, observers count the numbers of each species of raptor that passes through. These data are then used for research and education.

On the beautiful spring day, Ellingsen and the students saw more than 600 birds among 26 different species. The most numerous species were broad-winged hawks and blackbirds. The highlight of the day was watching a golden eagle fly directly overhead, Ellingsen said.

About SUNY Potsdam:

Founded in 1816, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of America's first 50 colleges -- and the oldest institution within SUNY. Now in its third century, SUNY Potsdam is distinguished by a legacy of pioneering programs and educational excellence. The College currently enrolls approximately 2,500 undergraduate and graduate students. Home to the world-renowned Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam is known for its challenging liberal arts and sciences core, distinction in teacher training and culture of creativity. To learn more, visit www.potsdam.edu.

###

Media Attachments

Students and a professor pose with their binoculars while on a field trip to the Derby Hill Bird Observatory.

Students in the WAYS 102 course at SUNY Potsdam visited the Derby Hill Bird Observatory during a spring class trip.

Copyright © 2026 Merit Pages, Inc. • All Rights Reserved. • Terms of Service • Privacy Policy • Opt Out