picutres Archives • PAUL ROEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY

8754414717 e14ca5a5b6 b 1 - Warblers Will Be The Highlight Of The 2014 Festival Of Birds — Palm Warblers will be among the many warbler species that draw thousands of visitors to Point Pelee for the Festival of Birds.

Point Pelee National Park, located on the north shore of Lake Erie in southwestern Ontario, is about to come alive with birds and birders. Every May the park hosts the Festival of Birds, which attracts tens of thousands of visitors wanting to view some of the thousands of birds that migrate through the area. This year’s 2014 festival runs May 1st through May 19th.

8751680718 b9b445f32e b 1 - Warblers Will Be The Highlight Of The 2014 Festival Of Birds — Common Yellowthroat

8732837300 b9a7cce4e3 z 1 2 - Warblers Will Be The Highlight Of The 2014 Festival Of Birds — Black-throated Green Warbler

Point Pelee is the southernmost tip of mainland Canada and sits at the crossroads of two major flyways. This combined with it’s mixed Carolinian habitat makes it the perfect stopover location for migrating birds that have just crossed Lake Erie. More than 380 bird species have been recorded in the park with over 100 of them breeding within its boundaries. In fact, 80% of all the birds recorded in Ontario have been seen at least once within Point Pelee’s birding area.

8929513078 5c0a6b1feb b 1 2 - Warblers Will Be The Highlight Of The 2014 Festival Of Birds — Several species of shorebird like this Sanderling will be observed on the sand point during the Festival of Birds.

The many shorebird species found feeding along the sandy spit are a popular draw, but the main attraction for most birders is the warbler species. Of the regularly occurring warblers in North America 42 of the 55 species have been observed in Point Pelee National Park, giving it the distinction of “The Warbler Capital of Canada”. On average 36 warbler species are seen each spring in the park. Prothonatary Warblers, an endangered species in Ontario, are a favourite among many birders.

9541559578 aeb2e4caa7 b 1 - Warblers Will Be The Highlight Of The 2014 Festival Of Birds — Beach areas and mud flats throughout the park will provide excellent views of shorebirds like this Semipalmated Plover.

It is not just birds that Point Pelee National Park is famous for. The park is home to over 750 native plants, some of which are rare, threatened or endangered in Canada. Plants of concern include, but are not limited to: American Water Willow, Common Hoptree and Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus. There are also several rare forms of animal life including: Fox Snake, Spotted Turtle, Five-Lined Skink, and the recently reintroduced Southern Flying Squirrel.

8731767397 190e9be22e b 1 - Warblers Will Be The Highlight Of The 2014 Festival Of Birds — Black and White Warbler

The American Birding Association has published daily updates on the birding news section of their website in previous years during the festival. This is a great place to keep on top of recent sightings, as well as where within the park they were seen. The link to the site can be found here.

8729469910 e585220de8 z 1 3 - Warblers Will Be The Highlight Of The 2014 Festival Of Birds — Cape May Warbler

The Point Pelee National Park Festival of Birds is something that is on every serious birders’ bucket list and attracts visitors from all over the world. For more information on the festival including daily activities, fees, directions, and hours visit their website here. If you are planning a visit to the park for the festival be sure to read the code of ethics section, as this is something that is taken quite seriously and any infraction can result in your removal from the park.

If you happen to make it to this year’s Festival of Birds, please let me know of your sightings either in the comment section below this post or by using my contact form. I am always interested in hearing from fellow birders!

Good birding,
Paul

TS 1 2 - Tundra Swan Migration About To Reach Full Height — Tundra Swans are now migrating across Southwestern Ontario on route to their breeding grounds in the Arctic. Watch for flocks of them overhead or in fields as they rest and feed during their long journey.

Another bird that lets us know spring is knocking on our door is the Tundra Swan. These swans, as the name suggests, breed on the Arctic tundra of both Canada and Alaska; they migrate through the London area every year, often stopping over to rest and feed. These birds have been delayed this year due to the extreme winter and lack of open water, but several sightings in our area are starting to come in. Flocks of Tundra Swans can be seen flying overhead in the typical V formation, their white bodies contrasting against the blue sky. If you hear a goose-like call, only higher pitched, look to the sky as there is likely a flock of swans overhead. Swans can also be found in farm fields feeding on the remains of last fall’s harvest.

IMG 8082 1 - Tundra Swan Migration About To Reach Full Height — **This large flock of Tundra Swans touched down to feed and rest just north of Lake Erie. In areas such as Aylmer Wildlife Management Area or Thedford bog, 1000’s of swans can make up these flocks.**

S2 1 - Tundra Swan Migration About To Reach Full Height — **Flooded farmland is an excellent place to find Tundra Swans in our area as they migrate through**.

The majority of Tundra Swans that migrate through our area spend their winters along the Atlantic coast, with Chesapeake Bay being their desired winter location. This estuary surrounded by Maryland and Virginia is the perfect habitat for thousands of overwintering swans. As the swans migrate in a northwest direction to their Arctic breeding grounds, it puts the Great Lakes and Southwestern Ontario right in their flyway. March and April are the spring months for viewing these beautiful birds in our area. These birds can be readily found along the Lake Erie shoreline resting in the lake or feeding inland in corn and soybean fields. A couple of famous stopover locations in our area for Tundra Swans are the Aylmer Wildlife Management Area, and the Thedford Bog just south of Grand Bend. The Aylmer Wildlife Management Area has several viewing towers overlooking the ponds as well as a Swan hotline you can call with a daily swan count. For more information, including directions and the swan hotline number click here. Daily updates for swan numbers at the Thedford Bog can be found here. Calling ahead to the hotline is a good idea before making the drive to optimize viewing success. Closer views are usually achieved in Aylmer, but I have experienced hundreds of swans right next to the road in Thedford. Either way, the sight of these birds won’t disappoint.

IMG 8642 1 - Tundra Swan Migration About To Reach Full Height — **Tundra Swans flying overhead.**

Tundra Swans can be found feeding and resting in these areas by the hundreds and many times the thousands. The sight and sound of this is simply amazing and is something every birder and non-birder should experience a least once in their lives. Planning a road trip to one of these swan destinations is something the whole family will enjoy. Check out the daily reports of whichever location is closest to you and make it a destination when Tundra Swan numbers increase. I think you will be glad you did.

Good birding,
Paul

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Warblers Will Be The Highlight Of The 2014 Festival Of Birds

Tundra Swan Migration About To Reach Full Height

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