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 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 (BOS) 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!
BOS Membership
The Buffalo Ornithological Society, Inc. 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.
Upcoming Field Trips and Events
Several field trips, meetings, and events have recently been added to our calendar. Take a look and be sure to join us at a meeting or on one of our field trips!
Oct 17, 2018
2018 Vaughan Lecture
Details: (click for more info)
Dr. Gavin Leighton will present on social weaver birds in Africa and what their behaviors can tell us about social evolution.
The meeting will be held at the Buffalo Museum of Science.
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Oct 21, 2018
Field Trip - Batavia Wastewater Treatment Plant
Details: (click for more info)
Leader: Doug Beattie (585) 356-3007 or sbeattie@rochester.rr.com
Meet at the operations center at 9 AM. The facility is located at the end of Industrial Blvd, which is off Pearl St. (Rte 33) at the western edge of the city of Batavia.
Doug Beattie will again lead our group through the famous wastewater treatment plant. This complex is a bonafide birding hotspot and has attracted such gems as Northern Wheatear, Harlequin Duck, Piping Plover and Eared Grebe. In fact, BWWTP is the only reliable location for Eared Grebe in Western and Central NY. This phenomenon has been running for close to a decade now and we hope it continues for this year.
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Oct 27, 2018
Field Trip - Lake Ontario Plains
Details: (click for more info)
Lake Ontario Plain Field Trip for fall migrants.
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.
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Oct 30, 2018
BOS Travel Trip - Yellow Rails and Rice Festival, Jennings, LA
Details: (click for more info)
UPDATE - This trip is full and a wait list has been started.
Join your fellow BOS members on this sure-to-be-memorable travel trip to southeastern Louisiana! If you've always wanted to SEE a Yellow Rail, then you won't want to miss this adventure! We will be joining the 2018 Yellow Rails and Rice Festival which virtually guarantees laying eyes upon one of the most secretive species of birds in North America.
We will enjoy a full 5 days of birding (plus two travel days) in the pine woods and Gulf Coast of Louisiana on this trip. Details are evolving but I wanted to get the dates out to potential interested people.
Trip cost will run about $1500/person and that includes airfare to Baton Rouge, hotel in Jennings, entrance to the Yellow Rails and Rice Festival and rental vehicle. I will be working with a travel agent to coordinate our flights and other arrangements.
During the festival, we will enjoy field trips to the Piney Woods for Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Bachmans Sparrow and Brown-headed Nuthatch. On another day, we will head to the coast for shorebirds, waterfowl and waders. I will lead our BOS group the day before the festival begins and we will plan on birding the coast and/or chasing any local rarities that have recently been reported.
Of course the main purpose of this trip will be to see Yellow Rails which are flushed from the rice fields during harvest. Other birds fleeing the combines include King Rail and LeConte's Sparrow. We may even get the opportunity to see a Yellow Rail in the hand during the banding operations! I have heard rave reviews from friends that have attended this event and am very excited to be planning this trip!
For those interested, please email me at alechumann@msn.com so I can get your name on the list. No worries, this does not commit you to the event, I just need to get an idea of initial interest. A planning meeting will be scheduled in the future as details become available. Feel free to visit the festival website to psych yourself up...https://www.snowyegretenterprises.com/Snowy_Egret_Enterprises/Yellow_Rails_%26_Rice_Festival.html.
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Oct 31, 2018
BOS Travel Trip - YRARF, Jennings, LA
Details: (click for more info) |
Nov 01, 2018
BOS Travel Trip - YRARF, Jennings, LA
Details: (click for more info) |
Nov 02, 2018
BOS Travel Trip - YRARF, Jennings, LA
Details: (click for more info) |
Nov 03, 2018
BOS Travel Trip - YRARF, Jennings, LA
Details: (click for more info) |
Nov 04, 2018
BOS Travel Trip - YRARF, Jennings, LA
Details: (click for more info) |
Nov 05, 2018
BOS Travel Trip - YRARF, Jennings, LA
Details: (click for more info) |
Nov 14, 2018
November Meeting - Uganda Travelogue by Marcie Jacklin
Details: (click for more info)
Gorillas, Shoebills, and Chimps, oh my! Marcie Jacklin will present Uganda Travelogue from her birding trip to Uganda. (Pictured on the calendar page is a Shoebill Marcie saw on her trip.)
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