Bird-Friendly Buffalo Initiative Launches May 2 with Symposium at UB

National Experts Join Regional Leaders to Champion Buffalo as a Bird-Safe City

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

On Friday, May 2, 2025, 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,” says 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 community-wide bird-friendly initiatives.”

Symposium Presentation Topics:

Bird-Friendly Cities & 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 & 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
Engage schools, businesses, and homeowners

Event Details:
In person or via Zoom online
11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Friday, May 2, 2025
University at Buffalo, NYS Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences, 701 Ellicott St.

Visit www.birdfriendlybuffalo.com to register, learn more, and join the movement.

Buffalo lies along a critical flyway for migratory birds. What we do here matters for birds across the continent. Let’s make WNY a region where birds can thrive—one building, one light, one action at a time.