Hermit Thrush during fall migration by Sue Barth ©
Scoping October
The month of October brings big changes to the local birding landscape. During the first week, Neotropical migrant stragglers are exiting the region and being replaced by temperate zone migrants; sparrows, kinglets, Eastern Towhee, Brown Thrasher, Hermit Thrush and others.
Stronger frontal systems occur this month and during high wind events from the SSW, the Niagara River should be your destination. Species to look for include Little, Sabine's and Franklin's Gulls, Parasitic Jaeger, and phalaropes. This is the month when the Brown Booby appeared at Erie Basin Marina during such a wind event. Other locations to view from include Hamburg Town Beach, LaSalle Park, Ontario Street Boat Launch, West Side Rowing Club and Woodlawn Beach SP.
Keep your hummingbird feeders filled and cleaned this month! If western vagrants are going to show up, this month is most likely when it happens. Brush up your ID skills of Rufous Hummingbird as that would be the most likely. If you have a contender at your feeder, get as many photos as possible, including the tail!
Also this month is the annual BOS October Bird Census. We need as many people in the field as possible, even if just an hour's time watching your bird feeder. Please contact the count compiler, Marcie Jacklin (mjacklin@brocku.ca), if you would like to assist. This count has been conducted for over 80 years and is a wealth of information on local bird populations. We need all members to help out!
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!
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New Conservation Issues Added!
BOS members, Marilyn Feuerenstein would like to make us all aware of two major conservation issues. Please read up on the latest two items posted to our Conservation Page.
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.)
Nov 02, 2024 (Saturday)
Field Trip - Lake Ontario Plains with Willie D’anna
Details: (click for more info)
Top's Market in Wrights Corners, north of Lockport, NY
Saturday, November 2, 2024 - Lake Ontario Plain Field Trip for fall migrants.
*PLEASE be mindful of the weather date which will be Sunday, November 3, 2024.
Meet at 8 AM at Tops Market in Wright's Corners. This is on the east side of Route 78 and Route 104, north of Lockport.
Leader: Willie D'Anna (716-751-3637 or dannapotter@roadrunner.com)
This trip is a car caravan of sorts, plying the rural roads of Niagara County in search of late fall migrants. Every year is different, but with all of the fields and open space habitat we will check, it is reasonable to see Northern Harrier, American Kestrel, and possibly early winter arrivals such as Northern Shrike and Rough-legged Hawk. Horned Larks should be added to the day's list as well. A few stops along the Lake Ontario shore lookouts should produce Horned Grebe and several species of scoters and other diving ducks.
PLEASE NOTE - this field trip can be moved to Sunday as a rain date. This will be an annual standing possibility due to the likelihood of inclement weather at this time of year!
Photo of a Purple Sandpiper on the Olcott Pier, November 10, 2023 by Willie D’anna.
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Nov 06, 2024 (Wednesday)
November Meeting and Vaughn Lecture: Dr. Jessie Williamson; Avian migration, physiology, and speciation at elevational extremes
Details: (click for more info)
Buffalo Museum of Science
Dr. Williamson will discuss her research on birds that make extreme seasonal shifts in elevation during migration, and will talk about how these movements affect ecology, evolution, and physiology. She will focus on her recent work with giant hummingbirds (Patagona spp.) in Peru and Chile, in which she's combined migration tracking, genomics, and field physiology to uncover a spectacular long-distance migratory journey with an extreme elevational ascent – and a cryptic speciation event, resulting in description of the world's largest hummingbird species.
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Nov 23, 2024 (Saturday)
Field Trip - Dunkirk Harbor with Devin Banning and Katelyn Davis
Details: (click for more info)
Dunkirk City Pier
Leaders: Katelyn Davis and Devin Banning (716-260-8889) Devin.Banning@fredonia.edu
Date: Saturday, November 23, 2024
Meeting time: 9:00am
Place: Dunkirk Harbor Pier
Alternate meeting place (to be used if pier is closed): Dunkirk Memorial Park (just west of the pier on Route 5)
This trip will be targeting newly arrived waterfowl that use the Dunkirk Harbor and the surrounding area to winter. It is not unusual to see over a dozen species of waterfowl in a morning here!
We will also be looking for gulls and shorebirds along the way, as well as the harbor’s resident Bald Eagles and Peregrine Falcons. Bring a scope if you have one, if not we can share!
Depending on recent bird reports from surrounding hotspots, we may choose to bird Point Gratiot, the Berry Road Marsh and/or Lake Erie SP after birding the harbor. Dress for the weather, there is often a breeze coming off the lake.
Common Loon photographed by Gale VerHague at Dunkirk Harbor on November 7, 2023.
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See Our Full List of Events