Bird Counts

Regional Censuses and Research

For over sixty years the Society has also conducted region-wide counts of birds in April, May and October. Hundreds of local birders participate in each of these activities and their records provide invaluable information about changes in bird distribution and populations over the years. Members also take part in a number of National Audubon Society Christmas Bird Counts, Fish and Wildlife Service Breeding Bird Censuses, and the January Waterfowl Count for the New York State Ornithological Association.

Noteworthy Records

For e-submission of monthly noteworthy reports to the BOS compiler. Please arrange e-submissions with the species, number of birds, date, location and observer(s). This information should be sent no later than the fifth day of the month following the reporting month to Bruce Chilton

Report of Bird Sighting to the BOS Records Committee For submission of reports for birds requiring additional documentation (see the Verification Date Guide for details) the following form should be downloaded and completed. Reports should then be forwarded to the BOS compiler.

Download the Verification Date Guide.

Download the Rare Bird Verification Form.

You may need to install Adobe Acrobat Reader to view pdf files.

Annual Buffalo Ornithological Society (BOS) Counts
The BOS conducts three annual bird counts during the months of April, May, and October. Counts are conducted in each of the 28 BOS sections and the count dates are targeted to periods of significant bird migration. These counts have been ongoing since 1935. Past participation has been excellent, with observers frequently numbering between 200 and 300 in the BOS region. Detailed and up-to-date information about each of the counts is published in The Prothonotary. For more information please contact Michael Hamilton mhsr@wzrd.com.

Download our new color pdf maps.

National Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count
Each December BOS members participate in the Audubon Christmas Bird Count from the Niagara Frontier Region. For each CBC a day is selected within the window of time set by the Audubon Society and volunteers census an area within the count territory. The results are combined with data from over 1600 sites across North America and are used to track winter bird populations.

Visit the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center for wintering distributions of North American birds.

New York State Atlas 2000 Project
The Atlas of Breeding Birds in New York State, Edited by Robert F. Andrle and Janet R. Carrol (Cornell University Press, 1988) provided a comprehensive benchmark for the status of breeding birds in New York State in the years 1980 to 1985. Since this time, range expansions and contractions for certain species and population changes for others have, in part, prompted another census that will lead to publication of the "Second Atlas of Breeding Birds in New York State". The field efforts will officially commence in January, 2000 and continue through the year 2004.

Regional Coordinator for the Niagara Frontier — Region 1
Richard C. Rosche
110 Maple Road, East Aurora, NY 14052-1720
(716) 652-8409
drosche@juno.com (prefers this way of communicating first)

Statewide Coordinator
Kimberley Corwin Hunsinger,
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
625 Broadway
Albany, NY 12233-4754
FWBBA@gw.dec.state.ny.us

Get your block maps from New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

For more information on the Atlas 2000 project visit the New York State Ornithological Association or the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

NYS DEC Waterfowl Count
Each January, members visit lakes, rivers and shorelines to count waterfowl (ducks, geese, swans, loons, grebes, etc.) Results are usually published in the September issue of The Kingbird.

New York State Waterfowl Count Compiler — Region 1
Jim Landau
9195 State Road
Colden, NY 14033
716-941-3869
kjlandau@localnet.com

Count Coordinator
Bryan Swift

Upcoming Waterfowl Counts
Upcoming 2006 Count: January 14 - 22, 2006. (Target date is Sunday, January 15, 2006)

Buffalo Ornithological Society Compilers 1955 to Current
New York State Waterfowl Count - Region 1

Clark S. Beardslee	1955
Harold D. Mitchell	1956
Arthur Schaffner	1957
Harold D. Mitchell	1958
Edward L. Seeber	1959
Arthur Schaffner	1960
Edward L. Seeber	1961
Richard C. Rosche	1962
Edward L. Seeber	1963
Harold D. Mitchell	1964 to 1971
Marie A. Wendling	1972
Harold D. Mitchell	1973
Alan Reckhow	1974 to 1985
Marie A. Wendling	1986
Wavel H. Barber	1986 to 1992
Joeseph DiDomenico	1993 to 1995
William Burch	1996 to 2004
Jim Landau	2005 to present

USGS Breeding Bird Census
BOS members help monitor the status and trends of North American bird populations.

The BBS is a cooperative effort between the U.S. Geological Survey's Patuxent Wildlife Research Center and the Canadian Wildlife Service's National Wildlife Research Center to monitor the status and trends of North American bird populations. Following a rigorous protocol, BBS data are collected by thousands of dedicated participants along thousands of randomly established roadside routes throughout the continent. Professional BBS coordinators and data managers work closely with researchers and statisticians to compile and deliver these population data and population trend analyses on more than 400 bird species, for use by conservation managers, scientists, and the general public.

If you would like to look at some of the North American Breeding Bird Survey from the Niagara Frontier Region, please visit the USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center. To be assigned a survey route visit the New York State Ornithological Association.

Peregrine Falcon Web Cam
This bird cam is brought to you through the efforts of the Buffalo Ornithological Society, the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, North Star Development Corp., and the Buffalo Audubon Society.

Hamburg Hawkwatch
A spring-time raptor stream that flows west to east along the southern shore of Lake Erie. The annual spring count period is March 1 through May 15, each year. Data collected is uploaded to HMANA (Hawk Migration Association of North America) and is available through their web site, http://www.hmana.org/ To view count data, follow their link to Hawk Watch sites.

This "spring only" watch is conducted at Lakeside memorial park (formerly Lakeside Cemetery) in Hamburg, NY. it is on flat lake plain located along the shoreline of the east end of Lake Erie, approximately 12 miles southwest of Buffalo. The official watch site is just inside the Camp Rd. entrance, between Routes 5 and 20. (Page 54 on the New York State Atlas & Gazetteer, published by DeLorme Mapping Co.)

Many raptors will not cross the open waters of Lake Erie because a large body of water does not produce strong thermal updrafts. Thus, the lake creates a natural barrier for thermal-loving raptors and funnels the birds to a relatively narrow zone within several miles of the shoreline where thermal updrafts will be much stronger. Buteos and vultures are especially dependent upon the thermals during migration while accipiters, eagles, falcons and harriers also utilize thermals and the prevailing north-westerly winds. In addition to the thermals discussed above the shoreline may provide a natural landmark for migrating raptors to follow on their northward migration.

This is an "all volunteer" effort (with most coverage provided by members of the Buffalo Ornithological Society). Hamburg Hawk Watch was established in 1988. Please contact the Hawkwatch coordinator Jim Landau for more information.

Barn Owl Project
We hope to have info on the Barn Owl Project soon.

A written Verification form needs to be filled out for ALL unusual observations. Please use the Verification Date Guide to determine if a report needs to be filled out or not.

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