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By Christine A. Smyczynski

One of the premier birding events in western New York is the annual Birding Festival at the Roger Tory Peterson Institute in Jamestown. This event will appeal to novice birders as well as more experienced birders. There are a number of lectures, field trips, exhibits, and other events during the four-day festival.

The event kicks off on Thursday June 9 with a reception at the Roger Tory Peterson Institute. Jim Berry, president of the RTPI, will give a special presentation on the collection of naturalist Roger Tory Peterson, including some rare pieces of the collection.

The late Roger Tory Peterson, a Jamestown native, was considered one of the greatest naturalists of the 20th Century. He used his skills in painting, photography, and writing to bring nature to everyone.

Also featured at the reception on June 9 will be author Dr. John Rappole, who wrote the following books: Birds of Texas: A Field Guide, Ecology of Migratory Birds: A Neotropical Perspective, and Wildlife of the Mid-Atlantic: a Compete Reference Manual.

Families will enjoy a special event planned for Friday June 10th that is especially designed for young birders and their families. School children and their parents can participate in hands-on activities and a beginner field trip. Also of interest to families will be vendors with displays on binoculars, backyard bird feeders, a live raptor exhibit, and a bird banding demonstration.

The keynote speaker at the Saturday June 11 dinner is Jeff Gordon, President of the American Birding Association. Recently Gordon produced a series of video podcasts in conjunction with the Peterson Field Guide.

There are also three all-day field trips during the festival; a Grassland Nesting Birds trip to Clarion County, PA on June 9, a trip to Allegany State Park on June 10 to look for warblers and a Whirlwind Warbler Tour on Friday June 10 to Allegany National Forest in Warren County, PA.

Overnight accommodations are available in the dormitories at Jamestown Community College for $50/person or $90/couple. Reservations are required. For more information about the festival, visit www.rtpi.org

By Christine A. Smyczynski

If you want to learn more about the history of birding, make plans to attend the Vaughan Lecture, “Birds ‘n Buffet,” at the Buffalo Museum of Science on Wednesday April 27th. The lecture, which is free and open to the public, begins at 7pm in the Buffalo Museum of Science auditorium.

The speaker will be author and naturalist, Scott Weidensaul, who will give a presentation based on his most recent book, Of a Feather: A Brief History of American Birding. Weidensaul has written over two dozen books on natural history. He also writes for several publications, including Audubon, Nature Conservancy, and National Wildlife.

His book, Of a Feather, talks about the origins of American birding, starting when the first Europeans arrived in North America and were amazed at the number of birds they saw.

Here are some excerpts of the book reviews published. “Highly readable, ideal for bird lovers and history buffs alike,” and “You don’t have to be a birder to enjoy this book about one of today’s fastest growing hobbies.”

If you want to make a night of it, there is a buffet dinner at 5:30pm. It has a birding theme and proceeds benefit Tifft Nature Preserve. Tickets for the buffet dinner are $25 and reservations and payments must be made in advance by calling 716-896-5200, ext. 385.

Buffalo Museum of Science, 1020 Humboldt Parkway, Buffalo 716-896-5200, www.sciencebuff.org

By Christine A. Smyczynski

The Jamestown Audubon Center and Sanctuary, a former farm, has five miles of walking/hiking trails on 600 acres of fields, wetlands, and woods. There are several streams and ponds, including Big Pond which is a sanctuary for migrating birds. Deer, fox, and other mammals make their home here, as do many birds and over 400 species of plants.

The Roger Tory Peterson Nature Interpretive Building, named after Jamestown’s most famous son and one of the 20th century’s greatest naturalists, has a variety of living and non-living exhibits and interactive displays, including over 200 mounted birds, some of which are now extinct.

The naturalists at the center also care for Liberty the Bald Eagle, who has lived at the center since 2002. Liberty has muscle damage to her wing, which prevents her from flying well, so she would not survive in the wild.

All sorts of events take place at the center throughout the year including programs for Scouts, youth groups, and schools. There are also a number of public events and festivals, including Art in the Woods in July, which features nature-themed crafts and artwork and the upcoming Snowflake Festival, which takes place on Saturday, February 5, from 10am-4:30pm. It is one of the centers most popular winter events. Activities include snowshoeing, cross country skiing, sleigh rides, winter camping and cooking demonstrations, children’s arts and crafts, bluebird house building, and much more. Admission is $5, under age 12 are free.

Jamestown Audubon Center and Sanctuary, 1600 Riverside Road, Jamestown 716-569-2345, www.jamestownaudubon.org Trails are open daily dawn to dusk, nature center building is open Saturday-Monday 10-4:30 (November – February) and Monday-Saturday 10-4:30, Sunday 1-4:30 (March-October) Admission is free on Sundays.

By Christine A. Smyczynski

The Christmas Bird Count is a tradition that has been going on for over a hundred years. It began on Christmas Day back in 1900. The idea behind the bird count was that it is a way to take census of the bird population. Scientists were concerned about declining bird populations, as back then birds were often hunted, rather than preserved and observed.

This annual mission involves citizen volunteers from all walks of life, students, birders, scientists, and families, who brave the elements to take part in this annual event. The 111th Christmas Bird Count takes place between Tuesday December 14, 2010 and Wednesday, January 5, 2011.

Those who do this obviously have a love of birds. Armed with only bird guides, checklists, and binoculars, these volunteers spend part of their holiday season making a contribution to bird conservation and science. Data collected helps researchers study the long term health of the birds as well as lets them see trends in increasing or decreasing bird populations. A summary of this bird count is published the following fall.

For details how you can get involved and dates in your area, contact your local Audubon society. In the Buffalo area, the Buffalo Audubon society has links to information about the Christmas bird count on their Facebook page. You can also see the New York State Ornithological Society’s webpage www.nybirds.org for more information.

By Christine A. Smyczynski

This week I’m starting a new series of articles which will describe the nature centers, wildlife refuges, and Audubon centers in western New York and the Finger Lakes region. I’m not even sure how many there are; I know there are dozens of them, so this will be an on-going series.

The first one I’m going to discuss is Beaver Meadow Nature Center, home to the Buffalo Audubon Society, which is located about an hour south of Buffalo in North Java, NY. The nature center got its name, Beaver Meadows, because of the active beaver lodge located on the five acre pond behind the visitor’s center.

This beautiful 324 acre sanctuary has seven miles of marked trails which are perfect for walking, hiking, and bird watching. In the winter months, you can use these same trails for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

Beaver Meadows has a large visitor’s center which has a variety of exhibits, a children’s discover room with many hands-on exhibits and a small gift shop. They also rent snowshoes and cross-country skis in the winter months. The center is a popular destination for school groups and Scouts.

The nature center sponsors many different events throughout the year, including guided nature walks, festivals, workshops for Scouts, children’s programs, family walks on Sundays, and other nature-themed events. These events take place at Beaver Meadow and at other parks and sites in the region.

An upcoming event that will be of interest to bird watchers is “Birding in Winter,” which will take place on Saturday November 20 at 9:00AM at Knox Farm State Park in East Aurora. Participants will learn how to find and identify birds that spend the winter in western New York. There is not cost to attend this event.

Beaver Meadow Nature Center, 1610 Welch Road, North Java, NY, 585-457-3228, www.buffaloaudubon.org Open year-round, Tuesday-Saturday 10-5, Sunday 1-5. Trails open daily dawn to dusk.

By Christine A. Smyczynski

On Saturday October 16 from 12-4:30 pm the SPCA will be hosting a Fall Nature Fest at their facility at 205 Ensminger Road, Tonawanda. This event, which is sponsored by the SPCA Wildlife Department, will feature local and nationally recognized wildlife educators.

Mark Carra, a local wildlife educator and naturalist, has been entertaining audiences since 1997 with an array of critters with his “Fascinature” program. Carra gives about 300 speeches a year and is a regular speaker at the Biology Department at Canisius College.

He has been on Animal Planet, Discovery Network and National Geographic television programs and has worked with many well-known animal handlers, including Terrie and Bindi Irwin, the late Steve Irwin, Jeff Corwin, Jack Hannah, Jim Fowler, and others.

Nickel City Reptiles & Exotics will also be on hand. Nickel City’s Jeff Musial will bring a variety of exotic mammals and reptiles to show. Jeff has appeared with his menagerie on a number of shows including Late Night with Conan O’Brien and Jimmy Fallon.

The organization Skyhunters will talk about the ancient art of falconry and will bring hawks and falcons to give a demonstration. SPCA Wildlife Vet, Dr. Karen Moran, will also be there to answer any questions you have about local wildlife.

There will be exhibits by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and Audubon New York. You can take a virtual tour of the SPCA Wildlife Rehab Facility. There will also be fun, interactive wildlife activities for kids.

By Christine A. Smyczynski

Things have been all a flutter at USA Bird Supply in Clarence since early June; however Saturday October 2nd is their official grand opening celebration. Located adjacent to the Great Pumpkin Farm, in the former Western New York Events Center building, USA Bird Supply carries everything a backyard birder would ever need or want, including a huge selection of bird houses, from Purple Martin houses to hummingbird feeders.

They even have squirrel feeders, to keep those pesky squirrels out of the bird feeder! Naturally they carry birdseed and the ever popular seed cakes. Also in stock are bee keeping supplies, a selection of birding and outdoor related books, cards, nature-themed toys and games, gifts, and even flags in their USA Flag Supply section.

The grand opening celebration will have something for everyone, whether you are a wildlife enthusiast or not. There will be wildlife speakers, including experts from the Buffalo Audubon Society and the Roger Tory Peterson Institute and even someone from the WNY Herpetological Society; that group’s all about reptiles and amphibians, in case you didn’t know. A master gardener from Cornell Co-operative Extension will also be on hand, as well as a representative from the wildlife rehabilitation division of the SPCA.

There will be several artists, including Melissa Mance who is noted for her nature paintings, particularly those of birds. See some of her work at http://www.myartspace.com/artistInfo.do?subscriberid=mwmiqlckqa3wwqq1&populatinglist=home Rick Pratt from Corfu, NY will be demonstrating his chainsaw art; see his work at http://www.chainsawartist.com/

Sculptor/painter Henrik Solderstrom will have his nature-inspired work displayed and Rochester’s Christine Marsh, who is a face painter extraordinaire, will be demonstrating her art. In the past, Marsh has worked for Steven Spielberg, Warner Brothers, and Disney. See her work on her website http://www.marshbodyart.com/index.php/face-art/

Yours truly, travel writer Christine Smyczynski, will be on hand from 11am-1pm to sell and sign copies of the book, Western New York Explorer’s Guide From Niagara Falls and Southern Ontario to the Western Edge of the Finger Lakes, the only comprehensive travel guide to the region. Read more about the book at www.westernnewyorkexplorersguide.com

There will be tasty treats, including Yancy’s Fancy cheeses, wines from Passport Wine and Liquors, and food from the Carriage House. There will be drawings for door prizes, kid’s activities, musical entertainment, and more.

The USA Bird Supply grand opening celebration takes place Saturday, October 2 from 11am-4pm at 11163 Main Street in Clarence.

By Christine A. Smyczynski

The 25th Annual New York State Power Authority Wildlife festival will take place Saturday September 25 and Sunday September 26 on the grounds of the New York State Power Authority Power Vista, 5777 Lewiston Road (Route 104) Lewiston. Events take place between 10am-5pm. Parking and admission are free.

This event, which is held in cooperation with the Niagara County Federation of Conservation Clubs, features over 50 environmental exhibits, outdoor educators, and wildlife rehabilitators.

Some of the groups represented include Aware Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, which will have a live presentation with birds of prey. Hawk Creek Rehabilitation Center, from East Aurora, will also have a birds of prey presentation along with a booth with information explaining their mission. FasciNature will feature live creatures from around the world, including fish and lizards. For The Birds Niagara will have a touch table, along with an interactive trivia game.

Paul Schnell from the Institute for Environmental Learning will discuss conservation and have a presentation Raptors in the Modern World, featuring Liberty the Bald Eagle. Jeff Musial from Nickel City Reptiles and Exotics will be at the festival, as will Carmen Presti, who operates a primate sanctuary. Many of Presti’s monkeys have been featured in movies. Peter Lotz of Skyhunters will bring hawks, falcons, owls and golden eagles and he will have flight demonstrations of hawks and falcons.

In addition, there will be many hands on activities for kids to try, including archery, fishing, rock climbing, and shooting a crossbow. Scouts can earn a special wildlife patch by participating in festival activities. For more information about the festival, call 716-286-6661 or 866-NYPA-FUN or visit their website www.nypa.gov.

The event also coincides with the Lewiston Harvest Festival, a huge outdoor craft show featuring over 100 artisans, held along Center Street in the village of Lewiston. There will be continuous entertainment and plenty of food available. For more information about the harvest fest see www.niagarariverregion.com.

By Christine A. Smyczynski

This article, the 8th in a series of 17 that focus on the 518 mile long Seaway Trail, focuses on Braddock Bay and the Rochester region. Braddock Bay State Fish and Wildlife region, located just west of Rochester, is easily accessible from the Lake Ontario Parkway, a scenic route that follows the Lake Ontario Shoreline.

Braddock Bay is a popular spot to view the over 100,000 hawks, owls, and other birds of prey that migrate here in the spring. Spring hawk counts take place March through May. Raptor, as well as owl banding, takes place during this time and the public is allowed to visit one of the banding stations to see the process. It is the only hawk banding station in the country open to the public. See www.bbrr.org for more information on the raptors.

In addition, The Kaiser-Manitou Beach Banding Station in the park has much activity during the migration seasons in spring and fall. Volunteers from the Braddock Bay Observatory, a non-profit organization, do migration research in both Braddock Bay and in nearby Hamlin Beach State Park Common nesters in Braddock Bay include mallards, blue winged-teal, and wood ducks. For more info see www.bbbo.org.

A few miles east of Braddock Bay you’ll find Ontario Beach Park on Lake Ontario at the mouth of the Genesee River, which has a beautiful beach, a park with a vintage carousel, and a long pier, which is a popular spot to watch birds, sunsets, and boats coming in and out of the harbor.

Travel even further east, and you’ll come to Irondequoit Bay. Sharp-tailed sandpipers can be spotted in the mudflats on the south end of the bay. Gulls come here in winter and Bald Eagles have been known to nest here.

By Christine A. Smyczynski

Even though we are in the “dog days of summer,” many people are getting ready for fall and winter by loading up on provisions that will carry them through the long winter months. Folks are filling their pantries will home-made canned goods, preserves, and more, as well as freezing vegetables and fruits.

However, why not stock up on supplies that will sustain your feathered friends once their natural food sources are few and far between. USA Bird Supply is offering a number of items on sale during their Summer Savings Event.

One of those items is Heath’s Fancy Bird Suet Cake, made from 100% food grade beef tallow, grains, and seeds. During the winter months many birds, including chickadees, woodpeckers, nuthatches, and cardinals, to name a few, enjoy feeding on suet cakes to give them a boost of energy as well as have a well-balanced diet.

The suet cakes, which are for year-round usage, are an excellent substitute for insects and perfect for use in the winter months. The cakes can be used in a suet feeder or placed on a platform or dish feeder. They are sold in a case of 16 cakes. It regularly sells for $18.99, and it is on sale for $15.99. The cakes are guaranteed fresh; just make sure you store them in a cool, dry place.

Pick up a suet feeder to use, such as the Heath Single Leaf Suet Basket ($15.99) which features a beautiful autumn leaf design, perfect for the fall. This basket holds one suet cake.

If you prefer using a seed feeder, the Woodlink Coppertop Caged 6-Port Seed Feeder is also on sale, normally $64.99; it’s on sale for $59.99. This brushed copper feeder, which will gleam in the sunshine during the upcoming colder months, has 6 feeding ports covered by a dome to protect both birds and seeds from the elements. The 1 ½” openings are large enough for small songbirds, like chickadees and finches, but won’t allow larger birds or squirrels to feed. It holds 1 ¼ pounds of seeds, cracked corn, mixed seeds, peanut chunks, sunflower seeds or safflower seeds.