As millions of birds migrate through Western New York this spring, Buffalo Audubon and Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan are partnering to reduce preventable bird deaths and promote a more bird-friendly city via the second annual Bird-Friendly Buffalo Symposium, at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 23, at the University at Buffalo South Campus.
Now in its second year, Buffalo Audubon founded the Bird-Friendly Buffalo movement in 2025 to raise awareness about tangible ways to make Buffalo a bird-friendly city by supporting its communities in cultivating bird-friendly programming and infrastructure that helps birds thrive.
This year, we have partnered with City of Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan to present this year’s symposium event—a consortium of expert environmentalists highlighting practical solutions for residents, business owners, and community groups to make Buffalo a more bird-friendly region.
“Buffalo is right in the middle of a major migration path and it’s important that we take steps to help protect the birds and the wildlife that are here year-round and those who are passing through,” said Mayor Sean Ryan. “As a fellow birder, I’m proud to partner with Buffalo Audubon to help make our region safer for birds.”
With as many as a billion birds killed each year due to window collisions in the United States alone, the symposium will highlight practical steps communities and residents can take to protect migrating birds, with a particular focus on the importance of going Lights Out during migration periods. Featured speakers include Mayor Sean Ryan, as well as representatives from BirdCast at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Buffalo Audubon, the University at Buffalo Department of Environment and Sustainability, the SPCA Wildlife Department, Lights Out! Connecticut and Lights Out Central New York.
Join us for the bird-friendly buffalo Symposium april 23!
5:30 p.m. Explore tables from local environmental and birding organizations, 6:30 – 8 p.m. Symposium event on Thursday, April 23 at the University at Buffalo South Campus, 403 Hayes Hall multipurpose room, located at 250 Hayes Rd, Buffalo, NY 14214.
This story originally was published in the Spring 2026 edition of The Outlook, a birding and nature magazine by Buffalo Audubon. Read more stories from The Outlook magazine online, or upgrade to subscribe and receive printed editions mailed right to you.