To view this site you need Adobe Flash Player and your browser must allow javaScripts. Go here to get the latest Flash Player. Western New York Winter Survival Strategy #7 Snow Birds Being a glass-half-full kind of guy, I see the people in a positive light who immediately blast off to warmer climes the day after Thanksgiving. While many consider Snow Birds the equivalent of human hot-house plants, I believe they’re really ambassadors spreading the word about Buffalo’s spectacular summers. Each year these savvy marketers selflessly pry themselves from the pleasure of being here for winter to go on a promotional recruiting mission. They are our boots on the ground, personally evangelizing our temperate summers, arts and cultural activities, stellar waterfront, and the dozens of weekend festivals to all of our southern neighbors. To show our immense gratitude for their service, I think we should FedEx each of them a snowman. page 80 Right: Icy docks on the Niagara River