Juvenile Red Knot by Alec Humann ©
Scoping September
September sees the largest number of southbound neotropical songbird migrants, including the warblers, which are in their more challenging to identify fall plumages. Hotspots like Tifft Nature Preserve, Amherst State Park, Goat Island, Fort Niagara State Park, and Rock Point Provincial Park are some popular places to visit at this time. While fewer in number, shorebirds continue to push through the region. Dabbling ducks continue to build while diving ducks begin to trickle into the region.
Most pronounced movements will be following the passage of a cold front and fallouts are possible if storms usher in those fronts. Migrants can end up anywhere so all local hotspots hold possibilities.
A strong southwest blow down the stretch of Lake Erie can push in all sorts of birds, from rare small gulls accompanying Bonaparte’s Gulls to terns, phalaropes, jaegers, ducks, and a few raptors. Anywhere along the Buffalo waterfront can prove rewarding during these storms.
Buffalo's Outer Harbor is a great place to check for Black-bellied and American Golden-Plovers. The short grass areas near the Seaway Slip at the base of the Skyway are worth a scope. While here, you should also take a walk through Times Beach. Habitat restoration has been initiated here and birding will improve as native plants start maturing.
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.
Chris Kundl Memorial Fund
Thank you to all who contributed to the Chris Kundl Memorial Fund. Enough funds were received to purchase a bench and plant two trees in memory of Chris at Goat Island where Chris was often found studying the flocks of gulls. What a nice tribute; thank you to all!
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!
Sep 23, 2018
Field Trip - Tifft Nature Preserve
Details: (click for more info)
Leader - Jajean Rose Burney, (716) 247-1255
jajean.rose@gmail.com
Meet at 8am at the footbridge just past the Visitor's Center.
Tifft is one of Buffalo's premier birding hotspots. With over 250 species recorded at this urban preserve, we are sure to end up with a great checklist for the day. Tifft includes ponds, cattail marsh, riparian areas and a grassland. The trails are level and easily walkable and there are also short boardwalk sections. At this time of year we will be focusing on Neotropical migrants and there's always a chance at Virginia Rail along the boardwalk. If water levels are low in the marsh, we will hope to cross paths with shorebirds.
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Oct 05, 2018
71st annual NYSOA meeting
Details: (click for more info)
This year's annual convention will be held in Rochester, NY. Stay tuned for details.
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Oct 06, 2018
71st annual NYSOA convention
Details: (click for more info)
This year's event will be held in Rochester, NY. Stay tuned for details.
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Oct 07, 2018
71st annual NYSOA convention
Details: (click for more info)
This year's event will be held in Rochester, NY. Stay tuned for details.
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Oct 10, 2018
October Meeting
Details: (click for more info)
More information to come.
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Oct 13, 2018
October Bird Count
Details: (click for more info) |
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. (more details to come)
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Oct 21, 2018
Field Trip - Batavia Wastewater Treatment Plant
Details: (click for more info)
Leader Doug Beattie, (585) 356-3007, sbeattie@rochester.rr..com
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) |
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