Monday, January 16, 2012

Atlantic Flyway

Buffalo gets a bad rap environmentally.  We are maligned for our snow and our industry among other things.  But one thing most people don’t know about; is that the region is an important part of the migratory path for birds known as The Atlantic Flyway. Birds heading north to Canada pass through territory encompassing Buffalo and out as far as Rochester.  The Niagara River is an important route on this path.

The Dayton House is located in the flyway and is just a short walk away from a spot that many gull watchers consider a hot spot for “Gulling.”  That is watching for Gulls, Terns and other migratory birds. 

In November, you can walk down to Rich marina and hear a cacophony of calls.  It is loud!  The Northern tip of Squaw Island is so full of birds that it almost looks like a coating of snow.  It is like that for about a month or so, then the flocks move on.

When you sit in the side yard sipping cocktails on a summer night, you can always see and hear gulls flying overhead.  As a person who grew up on an island, it’s a very comforting sound.  Once fall hits, the sound of geese starts in too.  A very nice aspect of the Dayton House and its location is that although we are in the city proper, many elements of nature are still close at hand.  Squaw Island and the Atlantic Flyway is one excellent example of this.

And it’s also pretty cool to watch bats circling the St. Francis bell tower!

No comments:

Post a Comment