The Western New York Land Conservancy welcomes acclaimed author and journalist Leigh Ann Henion to Buffalo to discuss her captivating book Night Magic: Adventures Among Glowworms, Moon Gardens, and Other Marvels of the Dark. In this illuminating and timely conversation, Henion explores the hidden wonders that emerge after sunset and invites us to rediscover the natural world in a whole new light, by experiencing it in the dark.

The Land Conservancy’s recent WNY Wildway animal movement research has revealed just how important the night is for many of the animals that call our region home. From migrating birds traveling under the cover of darkness to bats, amphibians, and mammals that depend on the dark to hunt, navigate, and communicate, nighttime plays a critical role in the health of our ecosystems. Yet increasing light pollution and human activity are rapidly changing this essential environment.

Through vivid storytelling and thoughtful reflection, Henion invites us to slow down, look up, and embrace the beauty and mystery of the nighttime world. Her work encourages us to reconsider darkness not as something to fear, but as something to protect, cherish, and experience.

At the Land Conservancy, we envision a future where Western New York’s forests, wetlands, and meadows remain healthy and connected, for wildlife both day and night. Protecting land also means protecting the natural rhythms that sustain life, including the often-overlooked importance of darkness.