There were six teams of participants for this years’ Christmas Bird Count for Kids, which was held on Saturday, January 5. This program is modeled after Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count, which is a census of birds by volunteer birdwatchers. Before heading out on the trail, families learned how to use binoculars and how to identify birds. Each group led by a guide, explored trails at either Reinstein Woods, Stiglmeier Park or Como Lake Park in search of birds. We recorded 25 different species of birds and 367 individual birds. Some notable birds include an Eastern screech owl, pilleated woodpecker, Cooper’s hawk and red-tailed hawk. Afterwards everyone enjoyed pizza for lunch and a quick presentation of the findings of each group. You can view the bird data collected here.

Thank you to everyone that participated, especially for our volunteer guides Brian Engler, Daniel Mlodozeniec, Brittany Rowan, photographer Paul Bigelow, and DEC Biologists David Malinowski, Jacquie Walters, and Ann Wilcox-Swanson.

Public Invited To Participate in 24- Hour Event Documenting Biodiversity

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), in partnership with Friends of Reinstein Woods, invites the public to participate in a “BioBlitz” at Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve in the town of Cheektowaga. The 24-hour BioBlitz will attempt to find and identify as many different species of organisms as possible.

“This is a great way to experience nature first-hand,” said DEC Education Center Director, Meaghan Boice-Green. “Exploring a small corner of nature can lead to unexpected discoveries and inspiring encounters with living things. The information collected will aid in our efforts to preserve the unique array of life at Reinstein Woods.”

Starting on the evening of Friday, May 13, Field Teams of local scientists and volunteers will work together to seek out species living at Reinstein Woods. Volunteers will accompany trained leaders in documenting a specific group of organisms, such as birds, insects, or flowering plants. Overnight, scientists will trap and record data about organisms that are active at night. On Saturday May 14, efforts to find and identify organisms like trees, fungi, and mammals will continue throughout the day. All of the data will be shared on www.iNaturalist.org, enabling participants to see the results of their efforts.

From 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, families can participate in “mini-blitz” stations, a bird walk, and a photo scavenger hunt, learning how to identify common plants and animals along the way. Participants of all ages and abilities are invited to attend.

Registration is required to join a Field Team, but no registration is required for Saturday’s “mini-blitz” activities. Register online or call Reinstein Woods at (716) 683-5959.