Join Buffalo Ornithological Society member, TJ Mudd, Jr. for a birding walk at Three Sisters Island in Niagara Falls State Park. We will try to find as many gull species as possible. Highlights will hopefully include Glaucous Gull and Harlequin Ducks. Bring binoculars and/or a spotting scope if you have them.

Date & Time: February 15th from 9:00am – 11:30am
Location: Niagara Falls State Park – Three Sisters Island
Registration: Required – registration will open soon

Bird watchers worldwide are identifying and counting birds to help track populations and understand their movements as a part of the Great Backyard Bird Count. Join the global effort on a walk with a Reinstein Woods Environmental Educator to search for winter residents like chickadees, nuthatches, woodpeckers, and hawks.

Date & Time: February 15th at 10:00am
Location: Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve – Environmental Education Center

Registration Required – registration will open soon

Unity Island separates the Niagara River from the Black Rock Canal and is one of the best locations on the upper river to observe winter gulls and waterfowl. Join Marcus and Schuyler on a short walk along the north end of the island, where a restored lagoon and a pier provide great views of rafting ducks and congregating gulls that can have Iceland, Glaucous, and Great Black-Backed Gulls, hiding amongst the Bonaparte’s, Herring, and Ring-Billed Gulls. Don’t worry if you are new to birdwatching; beginners are encouraged to join, so come out and enjoy the beauty of nature with us.

Date & Time: February 15th from 4:00pm – 5:30pm

Location: Unity Island Park

Registration Required – registration will open soon

Join Devin Banning and Katelyn Davis at Fort Niagara to look for waterfowl and gulls. Fort Niagara hosts a diverse array of ducks such as Common Goldeneye, White-winged Scoter, and Long-tailed Duck, among others. We will look for our expected gull species (Ring-billed, Herring, Bonaparte’s, Great Black-backed) as well as some more infrequent species that occur here (Little, Iceland, Glaucous). Ten species of gull have been observed here! We may also see Horned Grebes as well as Common and Red-throated Loons. Scopes are ideal for this location so bring one if you have one.

Date & Time: February 16th from 9:00am – 10:30am
Location: Fort Niagara State Park – Beach Parking Lot 
Registration Required – registration will open soon

Join Stewardship Director Josh Balisteri for a guided walk at the WNY Land Conservancy’s newest publicly accessible nature preserve, the Love Road Preserve. Originally owned by the Buffalo Ornithological Society (BOS), this remarkable property was purchased by the Land Conservancy to ensure its permanent protection. After extensive efforts to remove invasive species and create trails, the preserve is now ready to welcome visitors to come and explore this mature oak forest featuring swamp white oaks, pin oaks, red oaks, and impressive American elms. As we walk, we’ll search for overwintering birds in this exceptional example of interior forestland within the Niagara River Watershed.

Date & Time: February 16th from 11:00am – 12:30pm
Location: There is extremely limited parking on Love Road Preserve. We will meet at the WNY Welcome Center and carpool to the site.
Registration Not Required

Join NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Biologist Connie Adams for an outdoor talk at Aqua Lane Park, overlooking the beautiful Strawberry Island! Bring a chair, binoculars, or a spotting scope, and dive into a fascinating discussion about the archipelago of islands stretching across the upper Niagara River. We’ll explore the area’s rich ecology, including Bald Eagle nesting, Cormorant colony management, and the creation of Tern Island. Learn about the challenges terns face, discover the diverse waterbirds that call this area home—such as Great Egrets, Night Herons, and Great Blue Herons—and understand how waterfowl influence habitat restoration efforts underway around Strawberry Island. Birdwatching distractions are welcome, so come ready to observe and celebrate the island life of the Niagara River!

Date & Time: February 16th from 11:00am – 12:00pm

Location: Aqua Lane Park – Viewing Platform

Registration Required – registration will open soon

With its 29 acres and over a quarter-mile of shoreline, the Stella Niagara Preserve is the largest privately-owned, undeveloped tract of land along the entire length of the Niagara River and is one of our region’s most ecologically and historically important places.Join Andrew Gaerte with the WNY Land Conservancy on hike down the natural landing of the gorge to enjoy the bountiful Bonaparte Gulls on the river, and try to find the Little Gulls and Iceland Gulls potentially mixed in the flock. Other highlights may include Long-tailed Ducks and White-Winged Scoters. Beginners are welcome, a spotting scope will be provided.

Date & Time: February 16th from 2:00pm – 3:30pm

Location: Stella Niagara Preserve – Park and meet in the parking lot for the Lewiston Senior Services Center (4361 River Rd, Youngstown, NY 14174)

Registration Required – registration will open soon

Join the Feminist Bird Club of Buffalo for birding at Buckhorn Island State Park. FBC Buffalo is dedicated to promoting inclusivity in birding while fundraising and providing a safe opportunity for members of the LGBTQ+ community, BIPOC, and women to connect with the natural world. Highlights may include Tundra Swans, Hooded Mergansers, Common Goldeneyes, Common Mergansers, Bufflehead and more. Beginners are welcome, a spotting scope will be provided. The walk will be led by FBC Buffalo member Ruth Goldman.

Date & Time: February 16th from 4:00pm – 6:00pm

Location: Buckhorn Island State Park – Woods Creek Parking Lot (E River Rd, Grand Island, NY 14072)

Registration Required – registration will open soon

Join this night hike along woodland trails in search of owls, enhanced by hoots and whistles from your experienced leader. Total walking distance is about 1 mile. Feel free to bring a small flashlight and/or binoculars (but neither is necessary).

Date & Time: February 16th from 6:00pm – 8:00pm

Location: Beaver Island State Park 

Registration Required – registration will open soon

Join Buffalo Ornithological Society member, TJ Mudd, Jr. for a birding walk at Three Sisters Island in Niagara Falls State Park. We will try to find as many gull species as possible. Highlights will hopefully include Glaucous Gull and Harlequin Ducks. Bring binoculars and/or a spotting scope if you have them.

Date & Time: February 17th from 9:00am-11:30am

Location: Niagara Falls State Park – Three Sisters Island

Registration Required – registration will open soon