Northern Shrike © Sue Barth
Scoping February
Depending on the winter's grip, Lake Erie has either frozen over or still has lots of open water. When the lake freezes over, hordes of waterfowl settle onto the Niagara River and the rafts of ducks can be spectacular. This is one of the reasons that the Niagara River corridor has been designated an IBA (Important Bird Area).
Some of the better viewing locations include Broderick Park at the foot of West Ferry street, the north end of Unity Island, Black Rock Canal Park and the many access points around the perimeter of Grand Island. Tundra Swans tend to cluster around Beaver Island State Park at the south end of Grand Island as well as off the north end at Buckhorn Island State Park. Canvasback rafts numbering in the thousands can also be found off Grand Island.
If temperatures are cold enough to limit one's desire to walk outdoors, driving the rural roads of Niagara and Orleans Counties can provide great birding opportunities while staying warm in your car. Annual visitors such as Northern Shrike, Lapland Longspur, Snow Bunting and Snowy Owl frequent the weedy fields along the Lake Ontario Plain. When driving these roads, look for Northern Harriers and Rough-legged Hawks. Where you find these species, you may also see Short-eared Owls using the same field in late afternoon.
The plentiful fruit orchards of Niagara County as well as the cluster of crabapple trees at the entrance to Fort Niagara State Park are worthy of a look-over for possible Bohemian Waxwings and Pine Grosbeaks. Of course these species are not annual, but it's always a pleasant possibility. Another favorite stop this time of year is along the lower Niagara River at Lewiston to watch the Long-tailed Ducks engaging in courtship display. Listening to their endearing vocalizations are an annual 'must'!
At the end of the month, the first warm fronts kick into gear waterfowl migration as well as the first hawk flights of the season. Resident birds start singing as well and nothing sounds sweeter than the first Cardinal song of the year! The shuffling of the deck begins.
The Buffalo Ornithological Society, Inc. (BOS) was established in 1929 to promote the study of the birds of the Niagara Frontier Region. Annual grants are awarded by the BOS to fund member-sponsored avian research projects. We are proud of our extensive scientific research databases, our continuing involvement in environmental and conservation activities that impact birds, and our promotion of the enjoyment of ornithology.
The BOS coverage area includes Western New York and parts of nearby Ontario, Canada. This region is rich in bird life with over 380 species and 25 recognizable subspecies of birds recorded. Explore our site to learn more about where to report and find birds, both regional specialties and rare visitors.
The Buffalo Ornithological Society has something to offer to anyone passionate about birds: from the backyard feeder- watcher, the avid lister or the environmental activist, to the dedicated citizen scientist or the professional ornithologist. Society activities include regular programs, field trips, intensive long-term bird counts, checklist and date guide development, varied research activities, and involvement in local conservation efforts. We invite you to join in the activities of the society!
JOIN the BOS
Reflections on "What the BOS Means to . . . "
. . . Don Dixon
It means time spent with my family. Whether its on wild goose chases (numerous dips on a Pink-footed) to trekking through the Erie County Forest to see Hooded Warblers to trips with friends who are extended family. The BOS has afforded me time with the ones who really matter to me along with seeing some amazing birds. These birding days have brought me face to face with birds I may never see again, likes of the Northern Hawk Owl just north of Toronto, to a boat in the Atlantic for Black-Capped Petrels and a White-Face Storm-Petrel. Moments in my life that I will never forget.
Cheers & Happy Birding!
Upcoming Field Trips and Events
For a full list of our upcoming field trips, meetings, and events, visit our calendar page. You don't have to be a member to join our field trips or meetings! (Note that meetings run from September through June.)
Feb 11, 2026 (Wednesday)
Meeting - The Annual Rarity Roundup!
Details: (click for more info)
Buffalo Museum of Science
Meet at 7 pm in the Cummings Room at the Buffalo Museum of Science.
Take a trip down Memory Lane through the avian rarity highlights throughout the BOS Study Area for the year 2025! Bring a snack to share if you wish! This annual feature was originally brainstormed as an interactive program between members to share their moments of discovery when they happened upon a rare bird. For those finders, if you are able to come to the meeting and share your story, that would be wonderful. If you are not able to join the meeting, you can send Alec your story for him to include during the night’s narrative ([email protected]).
|
Mar 11, 2026 (Wednesday)
Meeting - Stephen Menzie presents…Falsterbo, Sweden.
Details: (click for more info)
Buffalo Museum of Science
Meet at 7 pm in the Cummings Room at the Buffalo Museum of Science.
If you have travelled with the BOS to Falsterbo, Sweden, you will recall Stephen Menzie, our exceptional guide! Stephen will be in WNY in March and has offered his time to come to Buffalo and give a presentation for our meeting on Falsterbo. If you have been there with the BOS, this will be a fun evening in which to relive the experience alongside Stephen! If you have not yet been to southern Sweden, this will be a nice summary of what to expect if you attend a future trip, including the scheduled early September 2027 trip.
|
Mar 14, 2026 (Saturday)
Field Trip - Dunkirk Harbor and Fredonia area with Devin Banning and Katelyn Davis
Details: (click for more info)
Dunkirk City Pier, 8 Central Avenue, Dunkirk, NY 14048
Meet at 9:00am on the Dunkirk Pier (parking available on the pier and by the shops right before the pier).
Leader: Devin Banning (716) 260-8889 [email protected]
Katelyn Davis (716) 216-3881
Our trip will begin at Dunkirk Harbor scoping for various waterbirds. With that in mind, please bring your spotting scope if you have one as it will greatly enrich your experience! Raptors, including Bald Eagle and Peregrine Falcon, are often in attendance with the plentiful food supply. We will also have a chance at migrant raptors, weather-permitting. Eared Grebe and Little Gull have been seen here in the past, and occasionally the harbor hosts Iceland and Glaucous Gulls! We should be able to see many species of waterfowl including Scaup (Greater and Lesser), Ruddy Duck, Redhead, Canvasback, Ring-necked Duck, and Northern Pintail.
After birding the harbor, we will explore a few other nearby hotspots offering different habitats; Berry Road Marsh, Van Buren Road Pond and the Dunkirk Airport.
Trip report from March 2025
https://ebird.org/tripreport/341854
Photo of a Long-tailed Duck by Nathan Stimson on March 25, 2024.
|
Mar 28, 2026 (Saturday)
Field Trip - Lake Ontario Plains with Willie D’anna and Betsy Potter.
Details: (click for more info)
Top's Market in Wrights Corners, north of Lockport, NY
Saturday, March 28th. Lake Ontario Plains Field Trip for early migrants.
Meet at 8 AM at Tops Market in Wright's Corners. This is on the east side of Route 78 at Route 104, north of Lockport.
Leader: Willie D’anna (716) 471-7595
[email protected]
This popular field trip seeks returning birds, like Killdeer, blackbirds, and Eastern Meadowlark, overwintering birds, like Rough-legged Hawk, Snow Bunting, and Lapland Longspur, and an abundance of waterbirds. We will look for loons, grebes, a variety of ducks and geese, and any goodies that might be around. Seven species of geese have been found on this trip in the past! We will also keep our eyes to the skies in search of migrating raptors, which are often prevalent in spring up by Lake Ontario. Previous trips have even recorded Golden Eagle. Come join us and start to get over your cabin fever!
Photo of White-fronted Geese among Canadas by Wendelin Long on March 29, 2025 near Barker, NY.
|
See Our Full List of Events