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  BIRDS ON THE NIAGARA
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BIRDS ON THE NIAGARA
is an
INTERNATIONAL WINTER CELEBRATION
​of the birds that call the Niagara River Corridor home.

Welcome
Virtual BON21
3rd Annual Birds on the Niagara International Winter Bird Festival and Celebration 
​Held February 12, 13, 14, 2021

BON21 Has Concluded
Thank-you!

FEATURE Presentations

WE WILL BE FEATURING BON21 PRESENTATIONS HERE

Keynote Presentation
Dr. Drew Lanham
​"Coloring the Conservation Conversation"
FOR MORE ABOUT  J. DREW LANHAM 
CLICK HERE

Dr. Timothy Beatley
'The Bird Friendly and Biophilic City: Integrating Safe Natural Habitats into Urban Design and Planning"

For More on Dr. Beatley CLICK HERE

Paloma Plant, Project Coordinator and a Co-founder of FLAP Canada Fatal Light Awareness Program (FLAP Canada)
"Your Pane is Their Pain"


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YOU CAN SEE ALL OF OUR BON21 PRESENTATIONS 
CLICK HERE

BON21 FULL VIRTUAL SCHEDULE
See All of the Presentations CLICK HERE

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Because of the ongoing pandemic, this years Birds on the Niagara Festival (BON21) was virtual. All Programs are free, and no registration is required. Future BON events will hopefully include live, in-person events as well as virtual programming.
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You can find all programs on this website. They will be made live according to the posted schedules on this home page, and archived on this website after the scheduled program time.

Although we had no official in-person programs this year, we encourage you go go outside and enjoy nature. There are lots of places to do this safely, including along the Niagara River Corridor on both sides of the border.  Remember to wear your mask and socially distance when appropriate. Pay attention to and plan for changing weather conditions.  Enjoy this years bounty of nature.

What better way to celebrate midwinter in Western New York and Southern Ontario, then by embracing Valentines Day Weekend as the BON21 Festival time?  Many of the waterfowl are in breeding plumage and engaging in courtship, and socializing with friends and family. We like to do that as well!  Friendship and romance are in the air! And you know what they say, "Birds Connect Us".
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Connect to the 2021 Great Backyard Bird Count
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Special: Birds on the Niagara adventure and education game:
AGENTS OF DISCOVERY
Check out this adventure and educational game on your phone!  Are you new to the world of winter birding along the Niagara Corridor, or just want more information about whats out there to see? We have developed an interactive, augmented reality game specifically for the Birds on the Niagara International Bird Festival. Download the app for free on any mobile device and play from home. Test your winter birding knowledge and explore other at home and in-park augmented reality games! Brought to you by New York State Parks
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Birds On The Niagara Checklist of Birds
​Thank-you Tom Kerr

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Selected Videos

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See The Birds on the Niagara team   presentation at the Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival, virtually hosted from Florida, January 29-31, 2021. See the Presentation below.


Tundra Swans on the Niagara, January 28, 2021, Grand Island, New York, Beaver Island State Park

Thanks to the Peninsula Field Naturalists for sharing this Brock University Link to a virtual copy of Niagara Birds: A Compendium of Articles and species of the birds of the Niagara Region in Ontario.  Written by John E. Black and Kayo J. Roy
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Special Thanks
For More on Our Partners and Co-sponsors CLICK HERE


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BUFFALO RISING

October 2020

September 2020 Birder's Roundtable with Jay Burney, Marcie Jacklin, Marcus Rosten, Tom Kerr, Jajean Rose-Burney

September 2020

Purple Martins gathering on Grass Island in the Niagara River, September 4, 2020

Enjoy our Celebration of  World Migratory Bird Day 
​Saturday May 9, 2020

CLICK HERE
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Celebrating World Migratory Bird Day 2020 
Niagara Region Birder's Roundtable 

With Tom Kerr (Buffalo Audubon); Jajean Rose-Burney (Western New York Land Conservancy); Marcus Rosten (Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper, WNY Prism); and Marcie Jacklin, Bert Miller Nature Club).  Hosted by Jay Burney 

See all of our  "Birds on the Niagara World Migratory Bird Day" and "Staying Connected"  VIDEOS CLICK HERE


February 2020
​Introduction to the February 2020 BoN Celebration


The International Niagara River Corridor linking Lake Erie with Lake Ontario is a Globally Significant Important Bird Area (IBA), and a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance. This unique place includes Buffalo, Grand Island, Niagara Falls, Lewiston, and Fort Niagara on the American side. Fort Erie, Niagara Falls, Queenston, and Niagara-on-the-Lake, can be found on the Canadian side. A passport or other border security ID is necessary to travel between the two sides. 

​This IBA​ and the Ramsar designation helps to characterize the region on a conservation level similar to the Galapagos, Yellowstone, and the Everglades relative to abundance,  variety, and threats to bird species. 

More Travel Information:
U.S Customs 
Canada Customs 
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The Niagara River Globally Significant Important Bird Area, and  and the Ramsar Wetland of International Importance designations help to characterize the region on a conservation level similar to the Galapagos, Yellowstone, and the Everglades relative to abundance,  variety, and threats to bird species. 

The Niagara is a freshwater, flowing, permanent river, connecting two large freshwater lakes.  It hosts numerous significant coastal fish and wildlife habitats including a riverine littoral zone in the upper Niagara River that is a unique ecosystem type in the Great Lakes.  Rare and threatened ecological communities are present with at least 21 species such as the Blanding's turtle and the Lake Sturgeon. Seven species are on the IUCN Red List, such as the Black-capped Petrel (extremely rare), and the Piping Plover (extremely rare) both protected federally in the US. 45 species of wildlife found here are protected in New York State. The Niagara is an incredibly important overwinter site for water birds. 92 pecies of birds are known to overwinter on the site including large congregations of at least 40 species of waterbirds.  The IBA designation lists 338 species of birds in all seasons can be found in Western New York and the Niagara Region of Ontario.
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Birds
In the winter, gulls waterfowl and other arctic travelers populate the open waters and shorelines of the Niagara. 


In spring and autumn, the parks along the river offer excellent opportunities for viewing of the migration seasons including neotropical songbirds. 

In summer the Niagara River hosts breeding populations of several colonial water birds such as Common Tern, Great Egret, and Black-crowned Night-Heron.

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2019 slideshow



WHAT MAKES WINTER ON THE NIAGARA UNIQUE?

Open Water Attracts Hungry Birds

​The open waters of the Niagara provide excellent winter habitat for birds including many species gulls and waterfowl.  Some are quite abundant.   This an ideal place for winter avian residents and  travelers and a great place to see species of ducks, geese, and swans. In recent years irruptions of northern species including Snowy Owls.  winter finches, Redpolls and  Evening Grosbeaks

18 Gull Species in One Place

​The abundance of gull species in the winter is a significant ornithological event. The number of species recorded here, and the concentration of these species, is a spectacle that observers cannot forget.
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Snowy Owl on Buffalo's Outer Harbor
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  • Home
    • Who We Are
  • BON21 PRESENTATIONS
  • BON21 Featured Speakers and Partners
    • Black Rock Riverside Alliance
    • J Drew Lanham
    • Timothy Beatley
    • FLAP
    • Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority
    • Pollinator Conservation Association
    • Tifft Nature Preserve
    • Waverly Woods
    • Western New York Environmental Alliance
  • Sign Up
  • Checklist Birds of the Niagara
    • Winter Birds >
      • gulls
      • waterfowl
  • Video
  • Ramsar
  • The Niagara River IBA
  • Press