Last week of March

Well, the snow flew again and has covered the ground for a little longer here at Tifft. New birds are arriving everyday and to see which ones we have seen, check out the Tifft Nature Preserve Bird Sightings Blog. Here are some photos taken during our weekly Wellness Walk.


The resident chickadees are still begging for seeds as you walk by, but theyre on their own now!



White-breasted nuthatch along Service Rd.



Killdeer was spotted along Lake Kirsty! There were 4 there total along the bank near Service Rd.



Sleepy-eyed deer laying down behind Beth Pond. Their coat is thinning out and the color is getting lighter in preparation for the spring.



Remnants or pieces of a beaver lodge? Along the far side of Beth Pond.

Ring-necked ducks swimming in Beth Pond.

This doe looks a little pregnant dont you think? Her belly is low and a little larger.

Cool ice designs around the red osier dogwood along Lisa Pond.

A male wood duck on the far side of Lake Kirsty.

Two Canada geese framed by the north viewing blind.

Just hanging out on the turtle platform.

Can you spot the killdeer? That camoflauge works great!

Beginning of Spring at Tifft

The past few days at Tifft have been fantastic days for walking. The weather has been warming up and the rain has subsided. The snows almost melted and the sun has been shining. Yesterday, our wellness walkers and I saw lots of signs of spring and returning birds popping up everywhere.

Some of the decently large group of wellness walkers yesterday


Lots of Mallards on Lake Kirsty and even a Hooded Merganser in the front!


Canada Geese on the water by the bridge.


Looked as if a Cooper's Hawk began creating a nest in the tree to the left of the bridge entering the preserve. It was probably too busy for them there because we havent seen a hawk often around that area.


Ice is melting clearing open areas of water.


Canada Geese giving us attitude and making a wholllee lot of noise.


Red-winged Blackbirds everywhere. They were all over the marsh.


The trails are clear despite the swampy water high around the marsh.


Woodpecker Holes everywhere!


Skunk Cabbage on Lisa Pond. Spring is here!


Very small zoomed in pic, but a Mallard and two Wood Ducks out on Lisa Pond!!


Cooper's Hawk up in the tree on the south end of the preserve behind Beth Pond. This may be the same Cooper's that built its nest near the bridge.


And then we found what appears to be a new nest in a tree close to where we saw the Cooper's Hawk.


Lots of deer shedding their coats, looking fskinnier for the warm weather.


AHooded Merganser pair on Lake Kirsty.

Come visit, take a break, and enjoy the season!

Signs Of Spring

Hi Everyone! Spring is finally coming to Tifft! Keep looking for updates on the Preserve in the next few weeks because hopefully signs will be popping up more frequently!
Also, feel free to check out our Bird Sighting blog to keep track of bird arrival and migration at Tifft!
Thanks for following!


Canada Geese have arrived on Lake Kirsty!


Buds getting ready to open


South Blind ice and snow beginning to melt down


Water flowing over the bridge dam.

WNED Fundraiser

Tifft Nature Preserve staff and volunteers participated in the WNED pledge drive and promoted programs at Tifft!

Join us for our Upcoming March Programs!

Spring Forward Night Hike
Saturday, March 12
7-8:30 PM
Adults and youth 12 and older
Tifft Nature Preserve, 1200 Fuhrmann Blvd. Buffalo, NY 14203
Enjoy an evening hike at Tifft Nature Preserve before we “spring forward” into spring. Non-Members: $5. Buffalo Museum of Science Members save 10%. Pre-registration required. Please call 896-5200, ext. 338.

Trek Tifft
Sunday, March 13
2-3:30 PM
Tifft Nature Preserve, 1200 Fuhrmann Blvd. Buffalo, NY 14203
Join Friends of Tifft for a guided tour of the preserve. This drop-in program runs all year every 1st, 2nd, and 4th Sunday of the month. $2 donation per person suggested.

Nature's Circle: Marching into Spring
Monday, March 14
10:30-11:15AM
Ages 2-3
Tifft Nature Preserve, 1200 Fuhrmann Blvd. Buffalo, NY 14203
Read a story and have some fun during an outdoor circle time at Tifft. Silly songs, games and lots of fun help little ones comfortably engage in a natural setting. Let’s learn to enjoy nature together! Non-Members: $4 per child and adult, $2 additional children with same adult. Buffalo Museum of Science Members save 10%. Pre-registration required. Please call 896-5200, ext. 338.

Wellness Walk
Thursday, March 17
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Tifft Nature Preserve, 1200 Fuhrmann Blvd. Buffalo, NY 14203
Join Tifft volunteers for a healthy outdoor walk with a botanical emphasis. This drop-in program runs all year. $2 donation per person suggested.

Full Moon Stroll
Saturday, March 19
7-8:30 PM
Tifft Nature Preserve, 1200 Fuhrmann Blvd. Buffalo, NY 14203
Join us in celebrating the transition of seasons as we look for signs of spring on a moonlit walk around the preserve on the last official day of winter. Non-Members: $5. Buffalo Museum of Science Members save 10%. Pre-registration required. Please call 896-5200, ext. 338.

Learn To Bird - A Friends of Tifft Event
Sunday, March 20
2–4 PM
Tifft Nature Preserve, 1200 Fuhrmann Blvd. Buffalo, NY 14203
The National Audubon Society has designated Tifft as an “Important Birding Area”, so what better place to learn to bird than at Tifft? Join one of Friends of Tifft’s experienced birders as they teach you how to use binoculars and your ears to locate and identify birds by sights and sounds. $3 per person; $10 maximum per family.

Wellness Walk
Thursday, March 24
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Tifft Nature Preserve, 1200 Fuhrmann Blvd. Buffalo, NY 14203
Join Tifft volunteers for a healthy outdoor walk with a botanical emphasis. This drop-in program runs all year. $2 donation per person suggested.

Signs of Spring Hike
Saturday, March 26
2-3:30 PM
Tifft Nature Preserve, 1200 Fuhrmann Blvd. Buffalo, NY 14203
Ever wonder how animals know it is spring? Which animals help usher in spring? Learn about the wildlife sights and sounds that help us know it’s spring at Tifft and also get information how you can be a citizen scientist while observing these species in your backyard or favorite natural space. Non-Members: $5. Buffalo Museum of Science Members save 10%. Pre-registration required. Please call 896-5200, ext. 338.

Trek Tifft
Sunday, March 27
2-3:30 PM
Tifft Nature Preserve, 1200 Fuhrmann Blvd. Buffalo, NY 14203
Join Friends of Tifft for a guided tour of the preserve. This drop-in program runs all year every 1st, 2nd, and 4th Sunday of the month. $2 donation per person suggested.

Wellness Walk
Thursday, March 31
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Tifft Nature Preserve, 1200 Fuhrmann Blvd. Buffalo, NY 14203
Join Tifft volunteers for a healthy outdoor walk with a botanical emphasis. This drop-in program runs all year. $2 donation per person suggested.

Beaver Stakeout!

Took a walk on a sunny day yesterday and saw some chickadees, our first Mockingbird of the year, and meanwhile, caught some great shots of our resident South Viewing Blind Beaver!

Trails are clear!

Chickadee on a mossy tree

First shot of a mockingbird, took alot of figuring with the help of our Welness Walkers to figure this one out.

First look at the resident beaver at the South Viewing Blind. Hes peeking out of the water ready to jump out.

He found some water reeds to chomp on before he takes a hike over to a nearby tree.

Trying to get some higher branches!

He got it. This is just one of many of the beavers victims on the preserve. The beavers really have decimated many of the cottonwoods and native trees around the waterways and marsh of the preserve. We have tried our best to fence off many of these trees to prevent further damage, but unfortunately its too late for a lot of our trees.