Birds
on the
Niagara

February 16-19 2024

2024 Marked the 7th consecutive year that Birds on the Niagara, North America’s only BiNational Bird Festival was held. Events occurred on both sides of the USA Canada Border at locations both indoors and outdoors.  Presentations, lectures, walks, tours, and special events were held throughout the 3 day event.

The Festival’s focus is in the interaction and linkages between 

• Niagara’s Birds
• Local and Bioregional Conservation Strategies
• Cultural Inclusion

 

Saturday programming included six guided birdwalks occurring in various locations along the Niagara River. Always well attended there were over 100 participants for these walks. Birders of all skill levels join us and learn at these events.

Additionally there were 8 additional walk-up sites, four at Niagara Parks Locations and 2 in neighboring nature preserves. The Aquarium of Niagara and WNY Welcome Center also participated.  Always popular, a few hundred people stopped by over the course of the day at these locations.

Indoor programming on Saturday included 10 speakers at Burchfield Penney serving over 300 people.  Culminating with a keynote speaker David Sibley where 150 people attended the lecture. There was a curated book signing of about 150 people and a drawing workshop earlier in the day by Sibley as well for an additional 50 people.

 

David Sibley 

Sunday’s programming was interrupted by weather but there were still 6 guided walk with attendance at about 40. The six walk in centers were active with a few hundred people stopping by.  Indoor programming included 4 presentations in Niagara Falls with attendance somewhat damprered due ot weateher.  About 50 people attended.

Finally, Monday programming consisted of guided walks at various locations along the parkway.

Our Canadian partners conducted walks and had a drawing contest.

We expect the 2025 programming to be even bigger.

 

Birders on the Niagara
We estimate having serve 650-700 people directly over 3 days and hundreds at the 8 walk in sites spanning areas from Lewiston to the Buffalo outer harbor.

We estimate we reach over 1500 people over the 3 day span.  We look to improve our counts particularly at the walk in centers.

1st Place Painting

 

Niagara’s Birds

The Niagara River and parts of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario are a part of the Niagara River Globally Significant Important Bird and Biodiversity Area.  This important designation is shared with places such as the Galapagos, Yellowstone National Park, and the Florida Everglades.  This is because birds from around the hemisphere and globe depend on the health of this area.  

In the winter, when the BON Festival is held, millions of birds can be found here. These birds have winter migrated from breeding territories in the far north, the arctic and or the northwest boreal forests. Species such as Snowy Owl, Bonaparte’s Gull, Tundra Swan and other species of waterfowl, gulls, and winter here because it is an open and healthy habitat full of food and generally free of ice. This area is biologically and physically connected to the Arctic and the Amazon. When people think of helping to protect the nature of the earth, protecting these birds and their habitats in our area, helps to save both the Amazon and the Arctic.

 

Local and Bioregional Conservation Strategies

The Great Lakes contain over 20% of the Earth’s freshwater resources. Protecting the Great Lakes Bioregion is an essential part of making sure that the earth will provide a healthy resource for humans and wildlife for generations to come. Part of the Niagara River Strait (US side) has been designated as a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance (https://www.wnylc.org/niagara-river-corridor). This global designation recognizes the area as a migratory corridor for many species of birds, fish, and insects (including the Monarch Butterfly) and home to species of reptiles, amphibians and other biodiverse organisms.  In fact, the area has been historically cataloged as one of the most biologically diverse areas on Earth. Conservation strategies in our region are fundamental to address global biodiversity, climate change, and local, regional, and global, and human populations that rely on natural resources such as clean water, clean air, healthy food, and a stable atmosphere.

BON programming includes promoting, developing, and educating around our needs, capacity, and initiatives to promote life-saving conservation strategies.

 

Cultural Inclusion

Conservation (working to appreciate and save nature and biodiversity) cuts across all cultural boundaries and helps to bind our human species in a mission to work toward an inclusive, healthy, and positive quality of life for all future generations. One of the first missions of Birds on the Niagara is to promote an inclusive culture that includes people of color, indigenous cultures, men, women, children, LGBQT+, differently abled, and religious voices. Our mission includes “Promoting the Intersection between Birds, Conservation, and Social Justice”.

Thank you for your continued support and please feel free to ask for any additional information to answer any additional questions. 

 

Mary Ann Kedron MBA PhD

President, Birds on the Niagara