Beaver Meadow Audubon Center

Buffalo Audubon Society has operated its nature center at Beaver Meadow for more than 50 years. The heart of Buffalo Audubon's science-based nature education programming, Audubon naturalists have educated generations of Western New York school children who have visited for Center Tours, for guided nature hikes and follow-up programs. Buffalo Audubon also presents a wide range of outreach programs, which bring Audubon naturalists to Western New York classrooms to assist teachers in meeting the New York State Teaching and Learning Standards. Audubon naturalists seek to involve students and the general public in Citizen Science endeavors.

The Beaver Meadow Audubon Center features a great many programs and services to serve the general public with natural history education and outdoor recreation opportunities. Beaver Meadow features:

• School and Group tours
• 24/7 public access to 8 miles of nature trails on a 324 acre nature preserve
• Hiking & Birding
• Visitors Center and Indoor Exhibits open to the public six days/week, 10-5 p.m., 1-5 p.m. Sunday (closed on Mondays and major holidays)
• Gift Shop
• Nature Library
• Children's Discovery Room
• Nature Art Exhibits
• Animal Exhibits
• Wildlife observation windows
• Winter Activities: snow shoeing and cross-country skiing

Nature Festivals: Maple Harvest Festival, Homestead Festival, Enchanted Forest, Breakfast with Santa, and Earth Day Festival
Full Moon Walks
Sunday Family Walks (2 p.m.)
Peeper and Woodcock Hikes in spring
Volunteer Opportunities
Trail Map

Bring your classroom to Beaver Meadow Audubon Center for an exploration hike that introduces concepts that meet the requirements of the New York State Learning Standards. The Center includes classrooms, exhibits, live animals, bird observation areas, nature art, a nature library, and a trained and welcoming staff who will lead your students on an exploration hike on the 324-acre preserve. Beaver ponds, kettle ponds, marsh, meadow, forest habitat are all represented. Contact Audubon program staff for more information.

Other Centers

The Buffalo Audubon Society, in concert with the National Audubon Society, has embraced the 2020 Plan, Audubon's long range vision of a nationwide network of Audubon Centers easily accessible by all Americans. To that end Buffalo Audubon is building upon its decades-long experience in providing nature center education programs by expanding its services to other sites in Western New York.

"Audubon Centers" are being developed and expanded through partnerships with other organizations that share our goal of developing a "culture of conservation" through science-based outdoor educational opportunities. Audubon Centers may encompass a large, Audubon-owned nature center building in a natural environment or it may take the form of regularly-scheduled Audubon programming delivered in partnership with other organizations at partners' sites and using their facilities.

IROQUOIS OBSERVATIONS

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In partnership with the US Department of Fish and Wildlife's Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, Buffalo Audubon Society volunteers present the Iroquois Observations! bird watching program each Saturday during the spring migrations. Monthly programs are offered during the Fall. The programs are free, open to the public, and are accessible to beginners and expert birders alike. A perfect family outing, the Saturday programs begin at 1 p.m. and last until 6 p.m. and feature expert guides at spotting scopes at designated overlooks, scheduled nature hikes, and driving tours. Some Iroquois Observations! Saturdays include evening owl prowls at dusk. Check the online calendar for details or call (800)377-1520.

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Buffalo Audubon Programming at Other Sites

KNOX FARM STATE PARK

Knox Farm State Park is one of New York State's newest parks, located just a mile from Main Street in East Aurora, New York. With acres of grasslands, mature forest, and the structures and pastures of a working farm, the site offers a wonderful opportunity to offer nature education programs on grassland birds and the wildlife of the suburban/rural forest. Audubon will also be providing technical assistance to Parks in managing the park's grasslands habitat for the benefit of several species of birds which nest in the park.

Buffalo Audubon Society is partnering with Audubon New York to assist it and its partner, New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation to develop a nature center facility, programming, and exhibitry during the next few years. Buffalo Audubon presently offers scheduled Saturday nature hikes and activities at Knox Farm State Park as part of its effort to introduce Audubon public education programs at Knox Farm. Call (585) 457-3228 or check the online calendar for the next scheduled program.

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ALLEGANY NATURE PILGRIMAGE

The ultimate weekend for lovers of nature! For over four decades the Buffalo Audubon Society has partnered with the New York State Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation as well as Jamestown Audubon Society Presque Island (PA) Audubon Society and the Burroughs Nature Club (Rochester). This three-day weekend held in the beginning of June at Allegany State Park is highlight of the year for hundreds of outdoor enthusiasts. Over one hundred presentations, hikes, lectures, workshops, and special events highlight the three-day weekend. Information and reservations information on this year's Allegany Nature Pilgrimage can be found here. Campsite or cabin rental must be separately arranged with New York State Parks.

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