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!
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.
Images 2021
August 30, 2021 "Rustic Beach Path"
"Northern Cresent" Phyciodes cocyta
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Eragrostis spectabilis "Purple Love Grass"
Bouteloua curtipendula "Side-Oats Grama"
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Images 2018-2020
The Beach Path late 2020
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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
Native plant foraging resources
Establishing a beach like trail through the habitat
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Edge habitat for nesting and foraging native bees
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 |
Monarch Butterfly Caterpillar July 2019
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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