Niagara USA- The Niagara Region is considered a globally important bird area, as numerous species of birds call Niagara USA home including Bald Eagles, Peregrine Falcons and more than 10 percent of the world's population of gulls.

So I’ll be honest, going birding was never something I’d consider to be on my short list of things to do.

The thought of standing in field for hours on end with a pair of binoculars didn't seem all that fun.

That all changed following a conversation with Bill Hilts, the outdoor sports specialist here at the NTCC when he told me there'd be a good chance I could see bald eagles if I went to the correct locations in the Niagara USA region. For some unexplained reason bald eagles seemed exciting to me.

Immediately, I placed a call to the folks at the Buffalo Audubon Society and asked for some guidance in finding bald eagles in Niagara USA and a bit of an explanation as to why Niagara USA is considered such an important bird area internationally.

Here’s my interview with Robin Foster:

During our time at Joseph Davis State Park, I unfortunately did not find the Bald Eagles I was searching for, but I did learn a lot of the populations of many different species of birds that can be found here. From 10 percent of the world’s population of sea gulls, to peregrine falcons, blue jays and other rare birds, it seems clear to me that Niagara USA is a premier destination for birders.

And there are plenty of places to so, including the Tonawanda Wildlife Management Area, which is the location where Foster said is best to locate the bald eagles I am after. Also places like Joseph Davis State Park, Golden Hill State Park and the Niagara River and Lake Ontario shorelines are prime locations for avid birders.

Here is additional locations for birders:

Inducon Industrial Park (map)

Here birders can find wintering raptors, Snowy and Short-eared Owls in winter. Grassland birds can be found in the summer. Short-eared Owls may be present just east of the Niagara Falls Airport at dusk.

The Short-eared Owls are very skittish and flushed when approached too closely. It is recommended any attempt to observe these birds be done in late afternoon so as to avoid disturbing their roosting period.

Niagara Falls State Park/Niagara River

Here birders can find nesting gulls, as well as peregrine falcons which have made their home on the Grand Island Bridge near the entrance to the City of Niagara Falls, as well as various other waterfowl. The Niagara River can be accessed at various points in Niagara USA.

Iroquois Wildlife Refuge/ Tonawanda Wildlife Management Areas (map)

Each spring, upwards of 100,000 Canada geese and thousands of ducks including blacks, mallards, American widgeon, pintails, teal, shovelers, ringnecks and others stop here to rest and feed before continuing north, while some remain to nest on the area. Occasionally, unusual birds such as the cinnamon teal, ruddy duck, European widgeon, cackling goose, white-fronted goose, blue goose and snow goose are identified by the more serious observers. Bald Eagles have also been known to nest here. The Tonawanda area is located halfway between Lockport and Batavia along Route 77 in Genesee and Niagara Counties, bounded on the south by the Tonawanda Indian Reservation. This 5,600-acre wetland tract is the westernmost of the two State waterfowl areas.

http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/24442.html

Niagara Power Project-Resovior State Park (map)

The Lewiston Reservoir (aka Robert Moses Plant Reservoir) is a large, manmade lake that supplies the water for the Robert Moses power station to provide hydro-electricity. It is 'roughly' ovate in shape being over 2 miles long and 1.5 miles wide at the furthest points. Waterfowl is the greatest attraction birding-wise and "the best variety there is usually in April" (W. D'Anna). Late fall and winter may provide yet-another location to view gulls. Glaucous and Iceland Gulls have been found recently.

Bond Lake County Park (map)

Bond Lake Park has a few small ponds that attract waterfowl and other birds. It has a mix of habitat, including an orchard, maples and other hardwoods, white pines of all sizes, plenty of food and cover provided by shrubs and vine tangles, and understory growth. It is bordered to the south and west by the Tuscarora Indian Reservation.

Yellow-rumped Warblers are regular in winter. Wintering Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers have been found in the park. Pine Warbler was confirmed breeding in the summer of 2001, and has been found in winter on one occasion. Other birds seen in past winters to keep an eye out for include Long-eared Owl, White-winged Crossbill, Rufous-sided Towhee, and Pine Siskin. Townsend's Solitaire was present here in Dec 2001.

Joseph Davis State Park (map)

Joseph Davis State Park may not be particularly "birdy" but it is open to the public. It has facilities for a wide variety of recreational activities. The terrain is generally flat, with ball and picnic fields, shrubby overgrown fields, woodlands and a few ponds. Anglers can fish for largemouth bass in the pond near the park entrance or for a variety of freshwater fish from the fishing dock on the lower Niagara River. The park also has a nature trail, as well as cross-country skiing/snowshoeing and snowmobiling trails and an 27-hole frisbee disc golf course.

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