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General information about Beaver or Buckhorn Island State Park can be had at (716) 773-3271. General regional information (Niagara Frontier Region) can be had at (716) 278-1770.
Directions to Sheridan Drive from the south: From the I-190 in Tonawanda, take the Vulcan Street exit onto NYS Route 266 (River Road) right at the edge of Niagara River. Travel to Sheridan Drive (NYS Route 325). Turn left toward the Town of Tonawanda Water station, and the marinas. The islands can be viewed from the marina/boat launch. Or travel south on Aqua Lane Road. View from the park midway down Aqua Lane Road.
Directions to Sheridan Drive from the north: From the I-190 in Tonawanda, take the Kenmore Ave exit. At the bottom of the exit ramp turn left, and travel 0.25 miles to Sheridan Drive (NYS Route 325). Turn right and take Sheridan to the water edge. At the light, drive straight through toward the Town of Tonawanda Water station, and the marinas. The islands can be viewed from the marina/boat launch. Or travel south on Aqua Lane Road. View from the park midway down Aqua Lane Road.
Directions to Beaver Island State Park:
View a map (34KB) that accompanies the following directions.
Travel the I-190 onto Grand Island. At the south end of the island, take the Beaver Island Expressway south about 2.5 miles. From here, travel park road to the edges of the river and the marina.
Description and directions courtesy of several observers' postings on GeneseeBirds-L.
The west branch of the Niagara River around Grand Island is called Chippawa Channel , which ends in the uninhabited Navy Island (Ontario, Canada). In the vicinity is Burntship Creek . Navy Island can be viewed from West River Road, at the northernmost parking area (recently built). Stopping on West River Road and parking on the grass is prohibited. Ducks, and gulls can be seen from the overlook, and sometimes Bald Eagles.
From the Navy Island overlook, head east over the I-190 (the road now becomes East River Road). Soon after, a gravel drive is on the left. Take this gravel drive to the end. A few blinds overlooks the marsh beneath the Grand Island Bridge and to the east. Ducks, rails and bitterns are possibilities here. The woods may offer migrants.
From the gravel drive, head east on East River Road. Shortly, a few parking areas exist next to a small creek. A few trails stem from here. Just down the road to the east is the headquarters area. Both these areas offer hardwoods and scrub habitat.
A Prairie Warbler was seen in December (1999) on the south side of East
River Road, i.e. across the road from the parking area and the
entrance trail at the east end of the park (not the parking area along
the creek which is about 300 yards to the west). It was in an area,
about 75 feet wide, of rather heavy low growth, brambles, sumac and
taller trees that is between the wastewater treatment plant and the
road. This gives a description of some of the habitat there.
View a map (35 KB).
Directions from Niagara Falls and points north: Take I-190 southbound onto Grand Island
($0.50 toll). Take the first exit on Grand Island. Turn right onto West River Road. Within a few hundred yards is the Navy Island overlook.
Directions from Buffalo and points south: Take I-190 northbound onto Grand Island
($0.50 toll). Proceed to the last exit on the island, Long Road, and
go east on Long Road. At the end of the road (T-intersection), turn
left onto Baseline Road. Follow Baseline until it ends at East River
Road. Turn left and the park entrance will be on your right in about
200 yards. The white house at the end of the park entrance driveway
is the caretaker's residence. Birders are welcome to look there.
Note, there may be two dogs tied up in the yard, though they seem
friendly.
(Description based in part by the courtesy of a Willie D'Anna and Betsy Potter's post on GeneseeBirds-L)
This page was last updated on 01 May 2002. Comments or questions regarding this page should be sent to Webmaster. Beaver Island State Park
Site history/background
Located on the south end of Grand Island, Beaver Island State Park (950 acres) is another way to view the Niagara River. Tundra Swans sometimes roost near here in late fall. A $5 entrance fee is collected in the summer. View the river from Beaver Island State Park Marina . One reason to bird this area in the summer is that it offers views (scope preferrable) of Motor Island and Strawberry Island (although lighting conditions may be poor in early morning and optimal in the evening). Motor Island has a rookery (sometimes up to 100 birds) of Black-crowned Night-Herons, Great Blue Herons,
and a groing population of Great Egrets, along with the possibility of other "southern herons". Strawberry Island offers the same possibilities as Motor Island and is located nearby. Two Snowy Egrets were seen here in July 2000. To see the south end of Motor Island, the closest viewing point from shore is from Beaver Island State Park (about 0.3 mile). it is about 0.7 mile to the north end of Strawberry Island. Beaver Island State Park has a 3 mile nature trail (and XC skiing in winter) and a half-mile sandy beach (for swimming) which might attract shorebirds early in the morning or out of swimming season. Noteworthy Records
In the distant past, both American White Pelican and Brown Pelican have been seen from here. More recently, American White Pelican was found Jun 12, 1996. Snowy Egret and Tricolored Heron were seen here in the same week in May 2000.
Areas of Interest
To view Motor Island and Strawberry Islands, one could also look from the foot
of Sheridan Drive (NYS Route 325) in Tonawanda. This spot is across the east
branch of the river from Beaver Island. To the south end of Strawberry Island, the closest viewing point from shore is from the foot of Sheridan Drive (about 0.6 mile). It is about 0.4 mile to the north end of Motor Island. Formerly, a marshy area was here that held shorebirds and rails (including multiple Yellow Rail sightings in the 1930s).
Buckhorn Island State Park
Site history/background
Buckhorn Island State Park resides on the north end of Grand Island. It is a state park which is 895 acres of marsh, meadows and woods. This last vestige of once vast marshlands and meadows that bordered the Niagara River is classified as a park preserve. The public is welcome to walk the two mile nature trail, hike, fish and cross-country ski in the park. Currently, the park is undergoing restoration to re-establish wetland cover and water levels and increase the diversity of native flora and fauna. Part of the restoration plan includes increasing public access with more non-intrusive trails, overlooks, a bike path and parking facilities. It has a Headquarters Building on premises. 
Copyright, © Kurt Fox, 1999-2002.
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