Important Event Information
Niagara Parks Parking Passes
Please note that a Niagara Parks Parking Pass may be required at some of the event locations. Parking passes can be purchased online in advance or onsite at any Niagara Parks parking lot.
Event Participation Waivers
All participants in events taking place between February 15 – 17 are required to sign a participation waiver. If you are already a Niagara Falls Nature Club member and have filled out the annual waiver, you are already covered. All non-member participants MUST fill out a waiver for each event. Please take a few minutes to read carefully and then fill out the NFNC Release of Liability.
Members need only fill out the NFNC Release of Liability. If you are purchasing a Family Membership, each family member must fill out a form. If you have children who accompany you on outings or to meetings, please fill out an Addendum – Release of Liability for Minors for each child. These waivers only need to be filled out once each year. You can either sign them electronically and email them to niagarafallsnatureclub@gmail.com or print them, sign and bring them to the BON outing that you attend.
The Non-member waiver is for guests who will need to complete a form for each activity.
NFNC Addendum-Release of Liability for Minors
NFNC Release of Liability for non members
NFNC Membership
Are you interested in becoming a Niagara Falls Nature Club Member? Learn more about membership HERE.
Birds on the Niagara U.S.
Visit the Birds on the Niagara U.S. page to learn more about the organization and see what exciting events are taking place across the border as part of the 2025 festival.
2025 Schedule of Events
February 7 – Birds and Beers at Counterpart Brewing 6:00pm – 9:00pm
Event Details
Come out and kick off Birds on Niagara 2025 with a full evening of great food, drinks and fellow bird enthusiasts!
Tickets $40
Each ticket includes food (served family-style) with tax and tip. All drinks are the responsibility of the ticket holder and will be purchased on individual tabs at the bar. Bear in the mind our reserved room is accessed by a flight of stairs. Bar and bathrooms are on the ground floor.
All reservations must be made in advance; payment in advance is greatly appreciated, but reservations can be paid in CASH at the door.
To Purchase Tickets:
By e-transfer to niagarafallsnatureclub@gmail.com with the subject line “birds and beers payment” and the # of tickets purchased
OR
Email niagarafallsnatureclub@gmail.com with the subject line “birds and beers payment” and the # of tickets reserved and indicate that you will pay at the door in CASH.
Location: Counterpart is located at 3659 Stanley Ave, Niagara Falls. Free parking.
Counterpart Menu for Birds and Beers
Shared Family Style ($29)
To start:
warm marinated olives, chili, fennel, citrus
spent grain sourdough, whipped butter, calabrian chili oil, sea salt
Main options:
banh mi, fried tofu, pickled vegetables, cilantro, sriracha mayo
fried chicken sandwich, b&b pickles, jalapeño slaw, sriracha mayo
cheeseburger, lettuce, american cheese, pickles, onions, burger sauce, banana peppers
house cut fries, old bay, malt vinegar aioli
(All of this is cut in half and meant to be shared) quantities depend on the total amount of people you have.
Dessert:
flourless chocolate brownie, stout caramel, sponge toffee (served in smaller bites for people to share).
February 15 – Niagara Shores Walk at Niagara Shores 9:30am
Event Details
Walk Leaders: Bob Highcock and Jean Hampson
Maximum Registrations: 30
Niagara birders Jean Hampson and Bob Highcock are co-compilers of the St. Catharines CBC, co-caretakers of the Niagara River Corridor IBA and members of the Peninsula Field Naturalists Executive.
Join us in search of waterfowl, gulls and winter woodland bird species along the Lake Ontario shoreline and Niagara River. Dress warmly and bring your binoculars. We may proceed to a different location afterwards, depending on the birds and the weather. Walking and some driving involved.
Location: Newark Park, 1501 Old Lakeshore Rd, Niagara-on the-Lake (immediately south of Lakeshore Rd/Niagara Shores).
February 15 – Adam Beck Overlook at Adam Beck 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Event Details
Walk Leader: Missy Acker
Missy Acker is a local wildlife artist and active birder. She enjoys the challenges of winter birding, especially gulls.
Missy Acker will have several scopes available for participants to drop in and see what treasures are hiding amongst the many gulls. The unconventional top-down viewing opportunity makes this a popular spot for gull watchers every year!
Location: 8001 Niagara River Parkway, Niagara Falls
Free Parking
February 15 – Nelson Park Marina Flyby at Nelson Park Marina 4:30pm – 6:00pm
Event Details
Walk Leader: Marcie Jacklin and Missy Acker
Missy Acker is a local wildlife artist and active birder. She enjoys the challenges of winter birding, especially gulls.
Marcie Jacklin is an avid birder and active member of all three Niagara-area nature clubs as well as the Buffalo Ornithological Society. She is active in many citizen science projects, including serving as the Regional Coordinator for the Niagara Region for the third Ontario Breeding Bird Atlus.
Come watch the flyby with us! Every evening gulls fly back up the river to roost on the Lake overnight. This is one of the best spots to pick out a Little Gull from the flocks of Bonepartes gulls flying by as the light fades.
Bring your own scope.
Location: 215 Ricardo Street, Niagara-on-the-Lake
Some free parking available.
February 16 – Dufferin Islands Walk at Dufferin Islands 9:00am
Event Details
Walk Leaders: Doug Berry and Marcie Jacklin
Maximum Registrations: 15
Doug Berry is a member of The Pipits birding club and is an avid birder who enjoys spending time outdoors. He looks forward to sharing his birding knowledge with others.
Marcie Jacklin is an avid birder and active member of all three Niagara-area nature clubs as well as the Buffalo Ornithological Society. She is active in many citizen science projects, including serving as the Regional Coordinator for the Niagara Region for the third Ontario Breeding Bird Atlus.
Marcie Jacklin and Doug Berry will lead a Birds on Niagara Birding Festival walk at this family-friendly location. A wide variety of winter birds and ducks can be found here and if the weather is nice, the group will progress across the road to view birding locations above the Falls.
We will meet in the last section of the Dufferin Islands parking lot, closest to the exit. Please note that this is a paid parking lot, unless you have a Niagara Parks 2025 parking pass.
February 16 – Adam Beck Overlook at Adam Beck Overlook – 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Event Details
Walk Leaders: Jeremy Bensette
Jeremy Bensette is a resident of the Point Pelee Area and lives to bird. He leads tours in his home region through his business called Pelee Birding, and travels often for both work and leisure birding. Jeremy loves to help others find birds and wildlife, and loves visiting Niagara Falls!
Jeremy Bensette will be at the Adam Beck lookout at 1 pm. He will be ready to show you the special gulls that visit the Niagara River in winter. He will have some telescopes available to help you get some great views. He will also visit some nearby hot spots. The trip is scheduled to end at 3 p.m.
Location: 8001 Niagara River Parkway, Niagara Falls
Free Parking
February 16 – PAG Paint Battle at Canadian Corps Unit 104 – 12:00pm – 4:00 pm
Event Details
Come out to join or cheer on our exciting competition for live artists to paint birds and celebrate the Birds on the Niagara Festival. Each event features 20 incredible artists who will go head-to-head in three rounds of live painting with the winners determined by audience vote. Plus, seize the opportunity to own a unique piece of art through our silent auction of all original works!
https://parkwayartistsguild.ca/events/pag-bon-paint-battle-feb-16-2025
Get ready for an unforgettable afternoon of creativity and excitement as we bring together Niagara’s most talented artists to compete in the ultimate live art tournament – Paint Battle! Our inaugural Parkway Artists’ Guild (PAG) BON (Birds On Niagara) Paint Battle is an exciting competition for live artists to paint birds and celebrate the Birds on the Niagara Festival. Each event features 20 incredible artists who will go head-to-head in three rounds of live painting, with the winners determined by the audience’s vote. Plus, seize the opportunity to own a unique piece of art through our silent auction of all original works!
As a warming station for BON participants, attendees have the ability to vote, participate, and have an opportunity to purchase original art and products from local artisans and vendors.
Audiences can vote, bid and follow their favourite artists at this event by placing your vote card for each round [one vote per round and per division (adult and teen)]. Voting cards will be provided upon entry to the event. This is a FREE EVENT for all to attend.
Works created at this event will be auctioned with 50% of the proceeds going to the artists. Your local organizer will let you know the expected timeline and method of payment at the event. Unsold artwork from Sunday’s event, will be available for purchase at the Niagara Glen Visitor’s Center on Monday, February 17th, with the same sales agreement of 50% to the artist.
Artist and vendor registration information is available at the Events page on the PAG website: https://parkwayartistsguild.ca/events
Battle rounds: 1 [12:30 p.m.] 2 [1:30 p.m.] 3 [2:30 p.m.]
Location: Canadian Corps Unit 104 – 4674 Ferguson Street, Niagara Falls
February 17 – Niagara Glen Nature Centre 10:00am-4:00pm
Event Details
Come out of the cold and enjoy a wide range of family-friendly activities at the Niagara Glen Visitors Centre! All three of your local nature clubs will be present, with lots of family-friendly activities. The Parkway Artist Guild will also have artwork from their First Annual Art Battle available for sale! The Canadian Raptor Conservancy will also be present with a live bird demonstration for educational purposes.
Location: 3050 Niagara River Parkway, Niagara Falls
Paid Parking: included in the Niagara Parks annual parking pass
February 17 – Birding with Pride Walk in Fort Erie 10:00am
Event Details
Walk Leaders: Jeremy Hatt, John Nishikawa, Marcie Jacklin, Bob Highcock and Jean Hampson, Jeremy Bensette
Marcie Jacklin is an avid birder and active member of all three Niagara-area nature clubs as well as the Buffalo Ornithological Society. She is active in many citizen science projects, including serving as the Regional Coordinator for the Niagara Region for the third Ontario Breeding Bird Atlus.
Niagara birders Jean Hampson and Bob Highcock are co-compilers of the St. Catharines CBC, co-caretakers of the Niagara River Corridor IBA and members of the Peninsula Field Naturalists Executive.
Jeremy Bensette is a resident of the Point Pelee Area and lives to bird. He leads tours in his home region through his business called Pelee Birding, and travels often for both work and leisure birding. Jeremy loves to help others find birds and wildlife, and loves visiting Niagara Falls!
Join us for the first Birding with Pride event on the Canadian side of the Niagara River! This event is a celebration of the LGBTQ community, but all are welcome. Participants will receive a limited-edition OFO pin! Creating a respectful, and welcoming environment is our priority as we bird northwards along the Niagara River looking for Tundra Swans, overwintering ducks and gulls. Several leaders from the Ontario Field Ornithologists will be leading this hike.
Dress warmly. We will have a bio-break around noon before we continue north towards Niagara Falls. Once we get to Niagara Falls each vehicle will require a parking pass. Passes can be ordered in advance on the Niagara Parks Commission website. The cost is $50 for 2 cars for the entire 2025 year.
Meet at the parking lot across from Old Fort Erie
February 17 – Photography Walk at Dufferin Island 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Event Details
Walk Leaders: Larry Mathewson, Michelle Stranges, Jeremy Bensette
Max Registrations: 15
Larry Mathewson is a local Ridgeway photographer and videographer with a keen interest in many facets of the photography world including but not limited to, landscapes, waterfalls, wildlife, birds in flight and underwater videography. He is a member of the Niagara Falls Camera Club, and a member of the Buffalo Science Museum Camera Club as the current VP of programs. He participates in digital and printed photography competitions in each club at Diamond and Platinum levels respectively. He is also a member of the Fort Erie Arts Council and the Fort Erie Underwater Recovery Unit. He has donated his time to many volunteer organisations like the Canadian Mental Health Association, the Roswell Cancer Center and the Buffalo Science Museum. Larry can be seen along with his wife, Nora, visiting conservation areas and walking local trails in search of that next great image.
Michelle Stranges is a local amateur photographer and nature enthusiast. Having spent 30 years in the Wine Industry and recently retired, she now enjoys photographing and spending more time enjoying the beauty and tranquility of nature.
Jeremy Bensette is a resident of the Point Pelee Area and lives to bird. He leads tours in his home region through his business called Pelee Birding, and travels often for both work and leisure birding. Jeremy loves to help others find birds and wildlife, and loves visiting Niagara Falls!
The workshop will cover basic camera settings as it pertains to birding and capturing images of them in various scenarios as the group walks through the small Dufferin Islands pathways.
The event welcomes both beginners or advanced, with the purpose being to answer questions on the use of whatever equipment you might have available.
Some important details:
· The group will be meeting at the parking area (cost for parking) just before leaving the Dufferin Islands area (near 2 large rocks and bridge).
· Suggested gear includes cold weather apparel to allow walking through pathways covered with snow and possible temperatures of -10C.
· Attendees can bring any camera type they currently use. Please understand the basic use of your camera and lens as we may suggest changes to settings like shutter speed, ISO, and aperture (F stop).
· Ideally cameras should have a lens of at least 200mm reach, but even better if it is up to 400mm reach. Be able to switch from single shot to high-speed mode.
· A tripod is not necessary for the workshop.
· Due to the cold weather please brig extra batteries.
If you have any questions, please email Larry (lmathewson@sympatico.ca). All the best and enjoy the workshop!
Meet at the last parking lot at Dufferin Islands. Paid Parking, included in the Niagara Parks Parking Pass.
Presented in Partnership with Birds on the Niagara U.S, Bert Miller Nature Club, and Peninsula Field Naturalists.


