Birding RTPI and Beyond

Roger Tory Peterson didn’t invent birdwatching. However, his Field Guide to Birds, first published in 1934, made identifying birds accessible to everyone through his system that easily pointed out “field marks”. According to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the most recent data shows that 96 million people (or 3 out of 10 Americans) engaged in birding, making up 37% of the population aged 16 and older.

Experienced or brand new to birds, your birding adventure begins at RTPI. We offer guided bird walks through our nature preserve. Our Bluebird Trail virtually guarantees you’ll see eastern bluebirds, the state bird of New York (also of Missouri.), in the spring when they are nesting.

Inside the museum, we have binoculars and spotting scopes for you to enjoy watching birds at the outdoor feeders in the back courtyard. The Snowy Owl Museum Store is the perfect place to buy your Peterson Field guide — we carry all 65 titles in the famed Peterson Field Guide series, covering topics from birds to plants to insects, fishes and reptiles and more. And, of course, we have lots of great art that draws you deeper into the beauty and wonder of the natural world, inspiring you to head back outside in search of your own nature adventure.

There are amazing birding opportunities throughout Western New York, Northwestern Pennsylvania and Southern Ontario, part of the Atlantic Flyway. Click on the links below to find scheduled bird walks and other information to help you plan your birding adventures.