'Bird-Friendly Buffalo' initiative launches May 2 with symposium at UB

National experts join regional leaders to champion Buffalo as bird-safe city

Press Release

This spring, Buffalo will join a growing national movement to protect birds and build more sustainable communities.

On Friday, May 2, the Buffalo Audubon Society will officially launch the “Bird-Friendly Buffalo” movement at its “Bird-Friendly Buffalo Symposium” at University at Buffalo, featuring national and regional experts to propel Buffalo’s application as a designated Bird-Friendly City.

“Presenters are among the nation’s foremost authorities in their fields, bringing cutting-edge insight and practical solutions to ‘Bird-Friendly Buffalo,’ ” said Ed Sirianno, executive director at Buffalo Audubon Society. “We are honored to also have presenters from the WNY community who are taking the lead in our communitywide bird-friendly initiatives.”

Symposium presentation topics include:

√ Bird-friendly cities and urban planning: Tim Beatley, Teresa Heinz Professor of Sustainable Communities, University of Virginia; author, “Bird-Friendly Cities”

√ The importance of bird-safe glass: Jim Cubie, founder and co-director, ornithologycenter.com and birdfriendlyyards.net

√ “Lights Out Buffalo: A Business & Conservation Win”: Bill Massaro, board member, Buffalo Audubon Society

√ Bird migration and backyard conservation: Tom Kerr, senior naturalist, Buffalo Audubon 

The initiative is led by the Buffalo Audubon Society, in partnership with conservation organizations, corporations, individuals and local leaders, and aims to:

√ Reduce bird-building collisions;

√ Advocate for bird-safe glass and architecture;

√ Promote "Lights Out" policies during migration;

√ Encourage native plant landscaping; and

√ Engage schools, businesses and homeowners.

The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at the University at Buffalo, NYS Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences, 701 Ellicott St.; or online via Zoom. Visit www.birdfriendlybuffalo.com to register or learn more.