Ringlets of white smoke rose gracefully from a fire ring fueled by a few charred logs. Weather-beaten Adirondack chairs and handcrafted benches circled the fire on a windy but warm afternoon at Beaver Meadow Nature Preserve on June 6, 2026.
The familiar smell of a campfire was comforting, but the seats remained empty—not for a lack of attendance at Buffalo Audubon’s second annual SpringFest; quite the opposite.
The lawn surrounding Trillium Nature Center was filled with families, friends, nature-lovers and volunteers. The seats remained empty because Buffalo Audubon Senior Naturalist Tom Kerr was preparing to lead a group of us—birders old and new—on a guided tour of the surrounding area, and we stood at the ready, excited and eager to discover what awaited us.
It didn’t take long.
Just a few short steps into the woods adjacent to Trillium Nature Center, we discovered a White-Breasted Nuthatch, a bird Tom explained that—unlike a Downy Woodpecker—could explore a tree in all directions. The path of the nuthatch wasn’t restricted; it was a familiar feeling to all of us.
Upon arriving at SpringFest, Buffalo Audubon guests found paths leading to exciting discoveries in every direction. A live painter dazzled us with what started as a simple blank canvas and transformed into the portrait of a handsome Wild Turkey as the sun stretched across the sky. Over here, a group of volunteers offered families an opportunity to craft a nature face out of branches and leaves. Over there, another group led rock-painting activities. Our favorite activity involved creating works of art using delicate flower petals and stems on photo-sensitive paper. Who knew creativity would play such a large role on a day we expected to be devoted to observing and admiring the world around us?
Our path led this way and that, from one friendly, smiling face to another, and we felt hungry to uncover it all—just like that nuthatch following its appetite up, down and around a tree.
As Tom led our tour across Welch Road, we stumbled upon a mother snapping turtle burying her eggs in gravel and dirt. The tour came to a full stop. Phones were retrieved from purses, pockets and bags. Cameras were aimed and photos captured. It was a rare moment that we all wanted to freeze in time—to look back on and remember. The possibility of new life, of a new family. It was a moment the organizers of SpringFest have long understood.
The important role family plays in nature was mirrored in the activities and events that unfolded throughout the afternoon. Kids lined up to meet Beaver Meadow’s fuzzy owl mascot. Moms and dads, grandparents and grandchildren participated in hikes themed around music, flipped over logs to discover insects and bugs, and joined shorter hikes designed especially for younger children.
And let’s not forget the food. Krolick’s BBQ did not disappoint, serving chicken dinners complete with salads and a roll. Snacks abounded—cookies, granola bars and fruit. The ultimate outdoor treat—s’mores—took center stage for the 10-and-under crowd (though I witnessed some parents sneaking bites, too).
Even for guests who visited without family, it was impossible not to feel that, with all the care and thought that went into the event, a day spent with Buffalo Audubon made you part of the Western New York birding family.
Our Birding 101 hike led us in and out of woods and meadows, across a stream to the edge of the titular beaver pond and finally into a breezy grassland. It was here that Tom first heard, and with the help of a seasoned birder on our tour, spotted an Indigo Bunting rocking up and down on a pine bough. Tom told us these buntings were common at Beaver Meadow, but for some of us, this was a special treat.
Tom set up his Vortex spotting scope and let us take turns spying on the rich, iridescent blue and black bird. While this was nothing new for him, we appreciated that he respected the bunting’s beauty and wanted to stay as long as possible so we could enjoy it, too. Had he not had another tour waiting, I think we probably would have sat there for as long as the bird did.
That Indigo Bunting is the perfect metaphor for Buffalo Audubon’s SpringFest—a beautiful event. It was something the organizers and volunteers knew would bring joy to visitors that day. It fed our souls with delicious food and music. It sparked our curiosity with creative activities and opportunities for discovery. And I think, if they could have, they would have let us all stay for as long as we wanted.
I can’t tell you how many times, or by how many people, I was invited back to visit. It’s a day I often think about with fondness, and I know it’s a place I plan to return to. If not for a solitary stroll through the woods, then certainly to enjoy the company of my new extended family at next year’s third annual SpringFest.
Perhaps, dear reader, I’ll see you there, too.
come birding with us!
“For the Birds” is a recurring column by Buffalo Audubon Senior Naturalist Tom Kerr. Join Tom for weekly birding tours and other programs at: buffaloaudubon.org/programs-events!
This story originally was published in the Fall 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.
