The annual Birds on the Niagara (BON22) festival might have started small, but these days it’s become quite an undertaking. Thanks to so many devoted bird lovers in the area, BON22 will engage with people from across the globe, both in-person and virtually, thus helping to ensure that the designated Ramsar Wetlands of International Significance (aka the Niagara River Strait) is duly conserved to the best of our ability.
Registration is now open for the Birds on the Niagara Festival, set to be held Thursday, February 10th – Sunday, February 13th (see full schedule).
From the BON22 organizers:
Over 10 in-person birding walks led by local birders at locations all along the Niagara River Corridor on both sides of the border, online recorded and live presentations, roundtable discussions, and online auction. Registration is required for all programs. See below for the virtual line-up. All in-person walks and programs are viewable in the registration link below. Space is limited for each of these in-person programs.
Virtual Programs are free to attend. Registration is required (click here to register). Donations gratefully accepted.
BON22 Virtual Program Lineup (more coming soon!)
Project Snowstorm- Caught in the Snowstorm
Conservation and Research of the Snowy Owl
Presenter: Scott Weidensaul, co-founder
Indigenous Stories and Traditions
Music, stories, and readings, embracing regional traditional cultures of the Northeastern Indigenous Cultures
Presenter: Joseph Bruchac, musician, author, and storyteller Nulhegan Abenaki Elder
Frequent Fliers-Tracking Purple Martin Migration
Presenter: Bridget Stuchbury, York University
Gardening For Birds
How to Make a Nature Focused and Attractive Outdoor Space
Presenter: Natasha Barlow, Birds Canada
I’m a Photographer?, I’m a Birder?, I’m Both!
How to find, view, and obtain great birding images in the Lake Erie and Niagara River Canada Shorelines
Presenter: Larry Mathewson, photographer and videographer
Lights Out Niagara
Creating a “Lights Out” Movement for a Bird-safe Niagara Region
Presenter: Arthur Pearson, Executive Director Roger Tory Peterson Institute
New York City and its Lights Out Programs
Presenter: Kaitlyn Parkins, New York City Audubon Director of Conservation and Science
RAMSAR- The Niagara River Wetlands of International Importance
Presented by: The University of Buffalo Law Clinic
Colonial Waterbirds of the Niagara River
Learn about Tern Island, Blue Herons, Green Herons, and other nesting species
Presenter: Connie Adams NYS Department of Conservation
Birding in State Parks on the Niagara River
Learn about Birds and Birding Sites in the New York State Parks on the Niagara River
Presenter: Matt Nustein, New York State Parks Naturalist and Educator
The New York State Birding Trail
Learn about New York’s new online birding and tourism initiative, the New York State Birding Trail and the Niagara Region component
Presenter: Kayla Baker, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
The Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, 50 Years On
Learn about the impacts in the Niagara Region of this fundamental treaty, and what we can do to move forward
Presenter: Margaret Wooster
Why Nature in the Niagara River Corridor is Important
Learn about the importance of biodiversity birds, and fish in the Niagara River Corridor Globally Significant Important Bird Area
Presenter: Jay Burney, BON Chair
The Top Ten Reasons for Saving Fort Erie Ontario’s Waverly Woods
Waverly Woods is one of the most critical and relatively untouched natural areas left in the Niagara River Corridor shoreline. It is the breeding area for endangered bird species. It also has great historical significance. It is under serious development threat.
Presenter: Marcie Jacklin, President of Community Voices of Fort Erie
Gulls of the Niagara
From the Canada Perspective
Presenter: Justin Peter, Ontario Field Ornithologists
Gulls of the Niagara
From the USA perspective
Presenter: Tom Kerr, naturalist and educator, Buffalo Audubon Society
Grass Island Conservation Update
Grass Island is a small habitat located in the Niagara River adjacent to Buckhorn Marsh State Park. It benefits breeding fish, and is a roost for migrating Purple Martins. It is also a favorite party place for summer boaters. Learn what is being done to protect this valuable wildlife habitat.
Presenter: David Spiering, New York State Parks
What is Your Favorite Bird?
Tom Kerr and Jay Burney (Birds on the Niagara TV) have been busy interviewing birdwatchers that you may already know, about this topic for BON22. They have created a series of short programs for you to view.
Get connected: www.birdsontheniagara.org
