Our mission
Buffalo Audubon Society leads and inspires Western New Yorkers to connect with and protect the natural world through bird-focused activities, advocacy, and habitat restoration.
Established in 1909 by a group of dedicated conservationists, Buffalo Audubon is dedicated to the promotion, enjoyment, and protection of the natural world through education, advocacy and community conservation. A regional, independent organization and chapter affiliate of National Audubon, we currently steward over 1,000 acres of land throughout Western New York, with our office headquarters located at Beaver Meadow Audubon Center in Wyoming County. We connect people to nature through delivery of educational programs for all ages, and seek to engage participants as advocates and stewards for and of the natural world.
Education delivery and outdoor experiences at Beaver Meadow have been our historical foundation, yet Buffalo Audubon is also engaged in large scale conservation and habitat improvement projects in Niagara and Erie Counties, currently including invasive species management at Buckhorn Island State Park, and the construction of a 14,000 square foot island in the City of Buffalo’s Niagara River Corridor for Common Tern habitat. These projects present long term opportunities to engage the public in meaningful community science efforts while increasing visibility. As Buffalo Audubon looks toward its future, we recognize and embrace the need to engage and represent new audiences while continuing to build on and celebrate the legacy of Beaver Meadow.
Education delivery and outdoor experiences at Beaver Meadow have been our historical foundation, yet Buffalo Audubon is also engaged in large scale conservation and habitat improvement projects in Niagara and Erie Counties, currently including invasive species management at Buckhorn Island State Park, and the construction of a 14,000 square foot island in the City of Buffalo’s Niagara River Corridor for Common Tern habitat. These projects present long term opportunities to engage the public in meaningful community science efforts while increasing visibility. As Buffalo Audubon looks toward its future, we recognize and embrace the need to engage and represent new audiences while continuing to build on and celebrate the legacy of Beaver Meadow.
Meet our Staff
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Ed Sirianno
Executive Director ed@buffaloaudubon.org Ed is delighted and proud to serve the Buffalo Audubon Society as Executive Director. He joins the talented staff and the many volunteers, members, and the Board as we work together to lead and inspire Western New Yorkers to connect with and protect the natural world through bird-focused activities, advocacy, and habitat restoration. From 2001-2019, as President of Creative Communication Associates, Ed and his team at CCA earned the reputation as one of the most trusted and valued strategic marketing communications firms in the US. His experience over more than 30 years ranges from work on well-known consumer brands, ivy league and higher education institutions, and non-profit organizations. Before CCA, Ed's spent 12 years building Sirianno Associates, a consumer advertising agency, working with client brands including Kodak, Ray-Ban, Haagen Dazs, and Michelin Tire, Zippo Lighters. Advertising Age Magazine recognized Sirianno Associates as "One of America's Top 100 Marketing Communications Firms." Ed serves on the Foundation and Alumni boards of St. Mary's College of Maryland, The National Public Honor's College He earned a BA from St. Mary's and an MA from St. Bonaventure University. |
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Kate Watson
Administrative Manager kate@buffaloaudubon.org Kate provides administrative support to the Buffalo Audubon team. As a New York State licensed wildlife rehabilitator and founder of Nora’s Ark, a nonprofit wildlife rescue and rehabilitation organization, Kate clearly has a passion for animals. Along with her nonprofit organizational and administrative familiarity, Kate has over 20 years of veterinary practice management experience. Together, these have given Kate a strong sense of devotion for the nonprofit sector. She brings her deep appreciation for how nonprofits seek to improve the quality of life for our region to her work as a member of the Audubon team. Kate strives to provide our communities with an educational resource to promote general awareness and understanding of the needs of wildlife. |
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Joe Dean
Director of Outdoor Education joe@buffaloaudubon.org Joe has had a passion for the natural world since his earliest years of life. He has had the pleasure of enjoying childhood among the historical and visual beauty of the finger lakes. From his time hiking with family, to his involvement with the local conservation club, Joe has always had a deep appreciation for the outdoors. Joe naturally went on to study environmental science and psychology at The College at Brockport, graduating with a better understanding of how to connect a person’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors to what nature gives us. Joe has begun to focus his professional career on environmental leadership, with education being at the forefront. He spent the past 5 years working as a Program Director for The Center for Youth: Earthworks Program, where he served thousands of students in several types of programming. Joe began to find his niche through developing and delivering quality education that students were inspired to be a part of. Joe comes to us with energy and enthusiasm; ready to continue the path forward with Buffalo Audubon. You will often see Joe enjoying early mornings at Beaver Meadow, where he enjoys hiking the preserve to better understand the songs of birds and carefully searching for the clues left behind by the animals. During his free time, he enjoys spending quality time with his wife and raising his son to have a love and appreciation for the natural world. |
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Tom Kerr
Naturalist tom@buffaloaudubon.org Tom has been educating others about the natural world since he began to understand it. With the help of his neighbors as a child, he created a bug zoo from his Tonawanda backyard, and gathered other neighborhood kids to view his collections. Inspired by many family vacations to National Parks, Tom studied environmental science in college. At SUNY ESF he was part of the first class that graduated with a Natural History and Interpretation degree, selecting the major because he understood the growing need to communicate the scientific world. Tom has spent his entire professional career in environmental education. He worked as a Park Ranger in the New York City Parks for five years, teaching school programs, leading an after school program for high school students, and monitoring piping plover habitat. Living in a major migration fly way in a dense urban environment, it was in NYC he developed a love of birding. Tom came to Buffalo Audubon to lead the For the Birds! program for elementary school students, and now as a naturalist enjoys leading bird tours and teaching people about all nature in Western New York. If you catch Tom in his free time, you will most likely find him with a pair of binoculars around his neck, setting up his spotting scope to make sure everyone gets a chance to view whatever wild life is around. He also enjoys raising his two sons to appreciate the wonderful natural landscape of Western New York. |
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Breton Sloan
Naturalist breton@buffaloaudubon.org Breton grew a love and appreciation for the outdoors from a very young age. He grew up in rural Oklahoma on a 3,000 acre farm with an abundance of wildlife at his fingertips. He served four years with the United States Marine Corps out of highschool and then continued his education at Oklahoma State University, where he graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Wildlife Management and Ecology. Soon after, he began his career as a Game Warden with the Oklahoma State Department of Wildlife. His favorite part of the job was educating the public about the state’s natural resources. He spent nearly 6 years as a warden before relocating to the Buffalo area with his wife and two children. In his spare time, he loves hunting, fishing, hiking, and spending time with family. He is elated to be able to continue his passion in outdoor education and conservation with the Buffalo Audubon Society. |
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Lauren Smith
Outdoor Educator laurens@buffaloaudubon.org Lauren provides assistance to programs and events at the nature center and throughout WNY. You can find her caring for the reptiles or taking care of the gift shop at the nature center. Lauren is majoring in Biological Sciences with a concentration in Environmental and Evolutionary Biology at the University at Buffalo. She enjoys hiking, traveling, gardening, and discovering the wonders of nature during her free time. In the wild you can find her on the trails with either a camera or binoculars in hand. |