Where to Photograph Birds and Wildlife in Western New York
By Tanner Stutz · · 7 min read
The short answer
The best wildlife photography spots in Western New York include Tifft Nature Preserve and Times Beach in Buffalo, the Niagara River for wintering gulls and waterfowl, Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge for spring and fall migration, Braddock Bay near Rochester for spring hawk migration, and Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge further east. Early mornings, patience and a long lens matter more than any one location.
Why Western New York is good for wildlife
Two Great Lakes, the Niagara River between them, and a lot of wetland put this region on major migration routes. Birds funnel along the lake shores in spring and fall, and open water on the river draws huge numbers of gulls and ducks in winter. You don't need to travel far: some of the best places are inside Buffalo's city limits.
Wildlife is what got me into photography, and most of my time in the field is still spent within a couple of hours of home.
In and around Buffalo
- Tifft Nature Preserve: cattail marsh, ponds and boardwalks a few minutes from downtown. Herons, waterfowl, songbirds, deer and the occasional mink or fox.
- Times Beach Nature Preserve: a small wetland on the waterfront, good for shorebirds and warblers in migration.
- The Buffalo waterfront and Outer Harbor: winter ducks and gulls on the open water.
The Niagara River
The Niagara River corridor is recognised internationally as an Important Bird Area, best known for the variety and sheer number of gulls that gather there from late fall into winter. Spots along the river from Buffalo to the falls, and down through the gorge to Lewiston, are worth checking. Beaver Island State Park on Grand Island is good for waterfowl too.
Refuges and migration hotspots
- Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge (Genesee and Orleans counties): marshes and impoundments that fill with waterfowl in spring and fall, plus bald eagles.
- Braddock Bay, west of Rochester: famous for spring hawk migration, when thousands of raptors pass along the lake shore.
- Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, east of Rochester: one of the largest waterfowl stopovers in the state.
- Letchworth State Park: more for landscapes and the gorge, but deer, turkeys and raptors are common.
Season by season
- Winter: gulls and diving ducks on open water along the Niagara River and the lake.
- Spring: hawk migration along the Lake Ontario shore, waterfowl at the refuges, and warblers from late April into May.
- Summer: nesting herons, egrets and songbirds in the marshes; mornings are best before the heat.
- Fall: waterfowl return to the refuges, and shorebirds pass through on mudflats.
Fieldcraft matters more than gear
Get there early. Animals are most active in the first couple of hours of daylight, and the light is better. Move slowly, stay on trails, and let animals come to you rather than following them; a bird that changes what it's doing because of you is a bird that's been disturbed. Respect closures and nesting areas.
A long lens helps — most of my wildlife work is shot on a Canon EOS R7, whose crop sensor gives extra reach — but patience and knowing where to stand will get you more good frames than any upgrade.
Questions
Where is the best place to photograph birds near Buffalo?
Tifft Nature Preserve is the easiest start, a few minutes from downtown. In winter the Niagara River is one of the best places in North America for gulls, and Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge is excellent during spring and fall migration.
When is hawk migration at Braddock Bay?
Spring, mainly from March into May, when raptors move along the Lake Ontario shoreline west of Rochester.
See the wildlife gallery or buy a print.