Taking place February 17-20, 2023 in Western NY and Southern Ontario
Birds on the Niagara Festival (BON23) is North America’s only international birding festival. For that reason, it is one of the only WNY festivals that actually brings together participants from the US and Canada. And what better reason to come together, than through celebrating the birds, nature, the environment, and the Niagara River Globally Significant Important Bird Area and the Ramsar Wetland of International Significance.
Throughout the course of the three days, BON23 will feature presentations on a variety of conservation issues and initiatives in the corridor including:
Niagara River habitat improvements
The conservation of nature and birds
Social justice contexts with programs focusing on equity, diversity, and inclusion in birding
The event kicks off on Friday at 6:00pm with a Meet and Greet at Twin Petrels Seltzer Co. on Niagara Street in the City of Buffalo, hosted by the Feminist Bird Club of Buffalo and Buffalo Women of Environmental Learning and Leadership- BWELL.
On Saturday, guided outdoor walks are scheduled at sites including Niagara Falls State Park, Fort Niagara State Park, Aqua Lane Park, and participants can join a LGBTQ+ friendly walk at Buckhorn Island State Park. Indoor programs and presentations will take place at Burchfield Penny Art Center, and families are encouraged to join festivities at Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve for bird games and walks for kids with the WNY Young Birders Club.
On Sunday, additional guided walks continue at sites including Stella Niagara Preserve, Niawanda Park, Seneca Bluffs Natural Habitat Park, and a walk at Beaver Island State Park with the Feminist Bird Club of Buffalo. Families can head over to Tifft Nature Preserve for bird games and a family bird walk.
On Monday, indoor programs and presentations take place at the Black Rock Harbor Center, and outdoor walks continue at Niagara Falls State Park and with Buffalo’s Black Birders at Unity Island Park.
Throughout the weekend the Western New York Welcome Center will serve as a central information hub. Other indoor programming partners include the Buffalo Museum of Science, Aquarium of Niagara, Bird Kingdom, and Niagara Parks School of Horticulture. Across the border, guided walks are scheduled for Canadian sites including Balls Falls Conservation Area, Niagara-on-the-Lake, and Dufferin Islands.
For a full schedule and registration info, please visit the Birds on the Niagara website at birdniagara.org.
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