Pollinator Conservation Association
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Buffalo Harbor State Park
Pollinator Conservation Area
Location: 111 Fuhrmann Blvd, Buffalo NY 14203

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Google Earth Image, October 2018
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The Pollinator Conservation Association, working with the Niagara River Greenway, the Greenway Ecological Standing Committee, and NY State Parks, has designed and installed a biodiverse pollinator conservation area at the entryway to the Buffalo Harbor State Park on Buffalo's Outer Harbor and is along the Shoreline Trail and directly adjacent to the Western trailhead of the Empire State Trail.  We began installation in 2018 and in 2020 received additional funding to expand the site. This area features a number of  habitat types typical to the outer harbor when it acted as a coastal buffer between the land and the lake. These include sand and dune, grassland, and a planned wetland area serving as a rain garden.  Native plants associated with the general habitat and associated with known and expected pollinators and birds are part of the biodiverse plantings and habitat here. The site is designed to support pollinators year-round.  Seasonal flowering plants, foraging resources, and nesting sites are a part of the mix. 

In addition to helping to rebuild native ecology at the site, it is designed to create an aesthetic that brings a coastal feeling to the site. this includes the creation of a short "beach path".   Habitat at Presque Isle in Erie, Pennsylvania is a guide for this conservation project.

This Buffalo Outer Harbor is important bird and pollinator habitat. In August of 2020 the Pollinator Conservation Association initiated the Fall 2020 Buffalo Outer harbor Bioblitz. This citizen science initiative is done with inaturalist. Observations at this site help to establish a foundation to expand conservation opportunities in the Outer Harbor.

Summer Fall 2021 Update
This year the site has become what it was planned to be. Established, regenerative, aesthetically appealing, and ecologically productive. In addition to the native plant biodiversity that includes native milkweeds, grasses, asters, goldenrods, mints, bee-balms and other plants listed below, the site is attracting a wide variety of bees, butterflies, dragonflies, moths, beetles, and other important insects. Over 40 species of birds have been observed here this summer.  In addition, the inclusion of sand and a rustic looking beach path makes the site appealing and appropriate for this waterfront site which once was characterized by sand and marsh. Come on down and explore, enjoy, and observe!

​Don't forget that if you use Inaturalist, you can still contribute to our Buffalo Outer Harbor Bioblitz by CLICKING HERE, or on the image below.

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Images 2021

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August 30, 2021 "Rustic Beach Path"
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"Northern Cresent" Phyciodes cocyta
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Eragrostis spectabilis "Purple Love Grass"
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Bouteloua curtipendula "Side-Oats Grama"

Images 2018-2020

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The Beach Path late 2020
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​THIS SITE USES NATIVE PLANT AND

​PLANT COMMUNITIES TO SUPPORT

BUTTERFLIES, BEES, BATS, AND BIRDS.

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​ One of the target pollinator species at this site is the Monarch Butterfly. For more information on Monarch Butterflies visit our Monarch Page: CLICK HERE

Images 2020
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Monarch Butterfly Tagging and Buffalo Outer Harbor Fall 2020 BioBlitz
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Images 2018-2019

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Native plant foraging resources
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Establishing a beach like trail through the habitat
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Edge habitat for nesting and foraging native bees
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by late 2019 dune plants had begun to sprout and beetles and other beneficial insects were moving in
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nesting and foraging habitat
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Native Plants installed on the site Autumn 2018.
• Allium cernuum                           50 plugs
• Antennaria plantaginifolia      128 plugs

• Asclepias syriaca                     150 plugs
• Asclepias tuberosa                  288 plugs
• Asclepias tuberosa             30 bare root,                                    locally grown from seed
• Asclepias tuberosa                 15 potted,
                              locally grown from seed

• Asclepias verticillata               150 plugs
• Eupatorium hyssopifolium     100 plugs
• Eurybia spectablilis                   50 plugs
• Oenothera fruticosa                200 plugs
• Penstemon hirsutus       15 potted, locally                                              grown from seed
• Pycnanthemum incanum        100 plugs
• Solidago bicolor                         50 plugs
• Solidago juncea                         50 plugs
• Solidago odora                           50 plugs    
• Solidago rigida                           50 plugs
• Solidago sempervirens           100 plugs
• Symphyotrichum laevis             50 plugs
• Symphyotrichum oblongifolius 50 plugs



Grasses

• Andropogon virginicus           216 plugs
• Bouteloua curtipendula          450 plugs
• Danthonia spicata                   400 plugs
• Eragrostis spectabilis             250 plugs
• Panicum virgatum                  150 plugs
• Sporobolus heterolepis         216 plugs​
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Monarch Butterfly Caterpillar July 2019
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Beach grass establishment on sand area, Winter 2020 (February 2020)

We will soon be designing a citizen science initiative so that you can report what kinds of insects, birds, and pollinators that you find at this site.
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Halloween Pennant Dragon Fly, July 2019
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Native Butterfly Species Found on Buffalo's Outer Harbor (Partial list)

Mourning Cloak
Red Admiral
Red-spotted Purple
White Admiral
Viceroy
Painted Lady
American Painted Lady
Great Spangled Fritillary
Pearl Crescent
Baltimore
Question Mark
Grey Comma
Eastern Tailed Blue
Spring Azure
Monarch
Pearly Eye
Eyed Brown
Little Wood Satyr
Silver Spotted Skipper
Least Skipper
European Skipper
Alfalfa
Clouded Sulfer
Common Sulfer
Cabbage
Pipevine Swallowtail
Tiger Swallowtail
Eastern Black Swallowtail
Spicebush Swallowtail
Zebra Swallowtail

Native Bee Species Found on Buffalo's Outer Harbor (Partial list)

Agapostemon virescens (common)
Anthidium manicatum (common)
Apis mellifera (common)
Augochlorella aurta (common)
Bombus fervidus (uncommon)
Bombus griseocollis (common)
Bombus impatiens (common)
Coelioxys rufitarsis (common)
Halictus ligatus (unusual)
Lasioglossum leucocomum (common)
Lasioglossum pilosum (common)
Lasioglossum vierecki (common)
Megachile latimanus (common)
Melissodes desponsus (common)
Xylocopa virginica (common)

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  • Home
  • The PCA
    • Board of Directors
    • Partners
  • Video Stories
  • Learn
    • Pollinator Places >
      • Buffalo Harbor State Park
      • Ohio Street DEC
      • West River Parkway
      • Aqua Lane Park
    • Pollination
    • Ecological Communities >
      • Plants and Flowers >
        • Native Plant Communities
        • Spotted-beebalm (Monarda Punctata)
    • Native Bees
    • Butterfly >
      • Baltimore Checkerspot
      • Monarch Butterfly
      • Mourning Cloak
      • Pearl Crescent
      • Eastern Tailed Blue
    • The Doug Tallamy Page
  • Projects and Resources
    • Niagara River Greenway Pollinator Partnership
    • Best Practices
    • Native Plant Lists
    • Native Plant Vendors
    • Citizen Science
    • Butterfly Counts >
      • count results 2017
  • the POLLINATOR
    • the POLLINATOR Fall/Winter 2018-19
    • the POLLINATOR Spring 2019
  • Press and Media
  • Appeal 2023