The Nature Sanctuary Society of Western New York, Inc. 

2026 TBA Join us a we kayak the beautiful Oswayo Creek in Portville, New York, with a stop at our newest sanctuary, the Oswayo Creek Preserve. An easy, flatwater paddle, the two-hour trip will be led by Preserve Custodians Bob and Holly Fischer. We’ll stop for dinner afterward at Sprague’s Maple Farms. Bring your own boat and gear, or they can be provided. For more information and to sign up, contact Jackie Swift: 716-532-6022 or jcourtneyswift@aol.com

USA Survey at Rosche Preserve: SPRING TBD On Going, keep posted, email to request future schedules FrogWatch USA Survey at Rosche Preserve: Join member, Bishop Preserve custodian, and professional herpetologist Penny Felski to learn the songs and monitor for five species of frogs that inhabit the Rosche Preserve as part of the FrogWatch USA survey program. Email to request a schedule and complete overview of FrogWatch USA, which Penny leads here in Western New York. While lea

MAY 21st AT KNOX FARM MANSION Celebrating 92 years of nature preservation, the annual meeting and banquet of the Nature Sanctuary Society of Western New York, Inc., will be held on Thursday, May 21, at the Mansion at Knox Farm State Park, at 437 Buffalo Road, East Aurora, NY 14052. The banquet will get underway with a reception at 5:00 PM followed by a buffet dinner at 6:15 PM. NSSWNY elections will be held and awards presented, followed by a presentation by our own RachelEch

Date TBD the survey date for this year will be determined by weather and the salamanders’ activity. Register right away. As in the initial surveys, the survey date for this year will be determined by weather and the salamanders’ activity. Therefore, anyone wishing to attend will need to pre-register with Ken Roblee either by email (kjroblee@yahoo.com) phone (716-989-1106) by March 10. Ken will contact everyone registered on the day of the night survey. Upcoming Events at Our

Spring clean up, Saturday & Sunday May 23 and 24, 2026 May 23, 10 AM at the Hammond Hill Rd. Bridge in East Otto May 24, 11 AM at Mill St .in Springville. Zoar Valley Paddling Club is organizing its 35th Annual National River Clean up in Erie and Cattaraugus counties. According to leader Don Shelters, “We will be cleaning various sections of Cat-taraugus Creek between Rt. 240 in Springville and Versailles Plank Rd. in Versailles. We will supply trash bags and some rafts, an

TBA for 2026 Volunteers are needed to work alongside the WNYPRISM crew. Bring work gloves, mud boots, water, and snacks. For details and to register, contact Jackie Swift: 716-532-6022. jcourtneyswift@aol.com

Zoar Valley Geology Hike Saturday, September 12 (Rain Date: September 19) Join geologist Ray Vaughan for our annual fall geology hike to the Sweet-land Preserve. Hikers will enjoy a walk through one of the most dra-matic stratigraphic columns in Western New York—the South Branch of Cattaraugus Creek gorge. Ray will be showing hikers the predomi-nantly shale bed-rock that formed hundreds of mil-lions of years ago from tiny particles of clay and other sediments. These sedime

Clean-Up/Work Party and Salamander Survey at the Sherman Bishop Preserve: Sunday, July 12 A clean up party and salamander survey will be held at the Bishop preserve on July 12. According to Ken Roblee, who will be leading the trip, “We will be picking up trash and maintaining the deer guards on tree plantings there. If need-ed, we will water the recently planted trees. After this work, a brief salamander survey will be conducted.” Participants should wear work clothes, st

Join us for our joint NSSWNY/NFBS field trip to the Houghton and Furman preserves, followed by our annual picnic at Sprague Brook Park at Noon. These trips will offer a day of natural beauty at Furman Fen and Houghton Bog, two NSSWNY preserves in southern Erie County. Showy lady’s slippers (Cypripedium reginae), grass pinks (Calopagon tuberosus), and purple pitcher plants (Sarracenia purpurea) will be among the many plants we will encounter. Long-time member and professional

NO date for 2026 at this time. Join member and master river guide Don Shelters for a trip down Cattaraugus Creek, stopping at the beautiful Alexander Preserve. The rafting journey will be part of the National Riv-er Cleanup, which Don has participated in for over 30 years. We’ll meet at 11:00 AM and put in at the Hammond Hill Road bridge and plan to take out around 5:00 PM at North Otto Bridge on an easy adventure for all ages. Bring your own boats and gear, or all equipment

Sunday, May 2nd 2026 Join us for the traditional NSSWNY field trip to see the Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica). Meet at the Alexander Preserve at 10:00 AM. Rain date is Saturday, May 11. Note that the proposed date and time of this hike is tentative be-cause of the unpredictable weather, trail conditions, and progression of the blooms. Wet weather and poor trail con-ditions can make the hike very difficult. Therefore, hik-ers should register early and will be updated

Sunday, May 2nd, 2026 10AM Join us for a garlic mustard pull on Saturday, May 4, at the William P. Alexander Preserve. Progress has been made in controlling this invasive at Alexander, but we need to stay on top of any reinfestation. This year’s pull should be occurring at or near the peak bloom of the bluebells that populate the floodplain, so you’re encouraged to join in the hike before you set into pulling. Please meet at the Alexander Preserve on the Zoar Valley Road at 1