Tifft Nature Preserve profile picture

Tifft Nature Preserve

A 264-acre habitat for animal and plant life dedicated to environmental education and conservation.

About Me

Tifft Nature Preserve is a 264-acre nature refuge dedicated to conservation and environmental education. The Preserve was created in 1972 from land purchased by the City of Buffalo for a landfill site. Concerned citizens recognized the ecological importance of the site and convinced the city legislators to plan for the area’s preservation. The completed landfill incorporated many safety measures, allowing the land to have a new purpose, a nature preserve which opened in 1976.The land that comprises Tifft Nature Preserve has a fascinating history. It was once part of a huge dairy farm owned by George Washington Tifft and later became a transshipment center, primarily for coal and iron ore. During the 1950’s and 1960’s, Tifft's land was a dumpsite for city refuse.Tifft began its transformation to a nature preserve in the 1970s. Nearly two million cubic feet of solid municipal waste was enclosed in clay and covered with soil excavated from another section of the Preserve. Ponds were enlarged, and trees and wildflowers were planted. Conservation of Tifft’s large cattail marsh helped attract a variety of animals.In 1982, Tifft Farm Nature Preserve became a department of the Buffalo Museum of Science. Its name was later changed to Tifft Nature Preserve, to better reflect its purpose as a preserve rather than a farm. I edited my profile with Thomas' Myspace Editor V4.4

My Interests

Help Us Respect and Protect the Preserve's Residents Plants and animals are an important part of the Preserve. They should be left undisturbed and for everyone’s enjoyment. Here are a few suggestions to help make your visit a pleasant one and to help protect the Preserve’s plant and animal life.The Preserve is home for plants and animals. Hunting, trapping, swimming, boating, cycling are not allowed on the Preserve as these activities disrupt the natural habitat. Bicycle racks are available at the Makowski Visitor Center. While fishing in designated areas is allowed in the summer, ice fishing is not allowed in the winter. The Preserve is to be kept litter free. It is important that visitors stay on the trails. Walk the trails with other people, not alone. Dogs and other pets should be left at home. Enjoy a picnic near the Makowski Visitor Center. Fires, cooking, camping and alcoholic beverages are prohibited. Tifft welcomes snow shoeing and cross-country skiing. Snowshoe rental is available. Collecting or releasing animals and picking plants is prohibited. Tifft Nature Preserve A 264-acre habitat for animal and plant life dedicated to environmental education and conservation. The Preserve is located 3 miles from downtown Buffalo and is a site for walking, bird watching, snow shoeing, fishing and photography.Tifft Nature Preserve 1200 Fuhrmann Boulevard Buffalo, New York 14203

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The citizens of Buffalo are an excited bunch these days. Downtown development is expanding, Hertel Ave. and University Heights on Main St. look better than ever, our beloved sports teams are showing promise (?), among many other reasons the shores of Lake Erie have another partner in reclaiming its natural beauty and abundance, the Friends of Tifft Nature Preserve.Please join the Friends of Tifft Nature Preserve for a press conference on Sunday, October 15th, 2006 at 1:30 p.m. at the Preserve, 1200 Fuhrmann Boulevard in South Buffalo, announcing new hours at Tifft for the general public and introducing new Friends of Tifft staff member Darren Kresge. Tifft Nature Preserve will be open to the public Wednesday through Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. throughout the winter and the summer hours will be extended into the evening.Following the press conference, members of Friends of Tifft will be leading a members’ only walk throughout the Preserve, going off trail and behind the scenes of our wonderful preserve and see part of the Department of Conservation’s pond construction project. So wear your hiking boots, bring your cameras and binoculars, and be prepared this will happen rain or shine.We have a great resource in Tifft Nature Preserve, it being one of the few and largest urban nature preserves in the entire nation. Located only 3 miles from the central business district of Buffalo, it presents plenty of opportunity for fishing, hiking, snow shoeing, bird viewing, discovering, archeology, exhibits, volun- teering, learning, and just plain getting out of the house during the winter. Friends of Tifft Nature Preserve is working cooperatively with the Buffalo Museum of Science to improve public access to this important local resource.For further information, contact Darren Kresge at 716-825-6397, 716-512-4187 (cell phone), or e-mail to [email protected]. Plus check out the website at http://www.sciencebuff.org/tifft_nature_preserve.php

My Blog

Spring/Summer Hours Announced for Tifft Nature Preserve

SPRING/SUMMER HOURS ANNOUNCED FOR TIFFT NATURE PRESERVE The Buffalo Museum of Science in partnership with volunteer organization Friends of Tifft Nature Preserve, Inc., has announced the Spr...
Posted by Tifft Nature Preserve on Fri, 30 Mar 2007 02:23:00 PST

Earth Day at Tifft

EARTH DAY Celebration at Tifft Nature Preserve   what: Clean up: in collaboration with Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper Shoreline Sweep and STARBUCKS you and other volunteers will help remov...
Posted by Tifft Nature Preserve on Sat, 24 Mar 2007 10:23:00 PST

Reopening Year Round to the general public October 15th

The citizens of Buffalo are an excited bunch these days.  The Waterfront is coming alive; Hertel Ave. and University Heights on Main St. look better than ever, our beloved sports teams are showin...
Posted by Tifft Nature Preserve on Thu, 05 Oct 2006 02:39:00 PST