Tifft Nature Preserve

The land that is now the Tifft Nature Preserve was originally part of extensive Native American hunting and gathering grounds. By the 1700s it had come under the control of the Haudenosaunee.

The land was first deeded in 1845. George Washington Tifft purchased 600 acres in 1858, transforming it into a large dairy farm. The Tifft family held onto the land until 1883. By 1900 the site had become a trans-shipment center, primarily for coal and iron ore. It had twelve shipping lanes and docked 83 vessels. This ended with the 1912 Panama Canal Act, which forced the separation of all rail and shipping interests. During the 1950s and 1960s, the site had become an unofficial dump. The land was purchased in the 1970s by the City of Buffalo for use as a landfill. In 1973, 2,000,000 cubic yards of refuse was transferred from Squaw Island and spread across the Tifft lands.[1]

Following public outcry, a city-supported not-for-profit organization was organized in 1976. A visitor center was completed in 1978. The not-for-profit was merged with the Buffalo Museum of Science in 1982. The preserve was temporarily closed in 1983 for removal of hazardous waste by the NYS DEC.

The preserve consists of 264-acres of restored habitat including a cattail marsh. It is as an important northeastern stopover for migratory raptor and waterfowl species. The preserve was designated as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by the National Audubon Society in 1998.

Public access is provided by five miles of nature trails and three boardwalks with viewing blinds in and adjacent to the cattail marsh.

Popular outdoor recreation activities includes birdwatching, hiking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. The Herb and Jane Darling Education Center provides educational displays, restrooms and indoor programming and event space. As of 2019, the parking lot and trails were open year-round during daylight hours.

The preserve is supported by the not-for-profit Friends of Tifft Preserve.