POINT PELEE

The Southern-most point of mainland Canada

Point Pelee is known as the most southerly point of mainland Canada, and this area is rich in wildlife.

I have been told that around half of the species of animals which are found in Ontario, can be found here at the Point!

Just a couple of minutes drive from the National Park you will find Hillman Marsh Conservation Area, which I am including in this section of our website.

This National Park is renowned as the best location in inland North America to observe the northward migration of songbirds.

Situated around 30 minutes from Leamington, 2 hours drive from London, Ontario and 45 minutes from Windsor , this lovely spot is easily accessible to many residents of Southern Ontario.

According to Parks Canada, birders come from all around the globe to experience this special event, with almost half of the visitors from outside Canada, and the majority of these are from the United States.

Although not originally planned as such, mid-May at Pelee has become a Birding Festival with thousands of Bird-watchers celebrating the return of the Spring birds.

Probably the most impressive part of Pelee's spring migration is the diversity and huge numbers of northbound warblers that descend on the area. This has given the area the reputation of "Warbler Capital of North America".

Point Pelee is perfectly situated far enough north that it receives both the warblers which fly to the north only through Texas, and those which fly north only through Florida.

Yet, it is also far enough south to attract the southern species, such as the Hooded, Kentucky and Worm-eating warblers.

As many as 39 warbler species have been seen during a single migration, which was the case in 1979. During the migration that year, three birders each found a phenomenal 34 species, on one day!

This Oriole is a summer visitor to this area of Ontario.

To obtain the best spring birding experience at Pelee, it is important to realize that the National Park is just one essential birding stop in the immediate area.

Others stops for the birds include Hillman Marsh Conservation Area, Wheatley Provincial Park, Kopegaron Woods Conservation Area and the onion fields on the upper part of the Pelee peninsula.

For a few special days each autumn, this area is a temporary home to thousands of migrating Monarch butterflies.

As soon as the conditions are favourable, the butterflies begin one of nature's greatest journeys.

Along the north shore of Lake Erie they gather, in clouds of several hundred thousand butterflies, as they wait for the right time to cross the vast expanse of Lake Erie, heading for their destination, which is 3000 km further south, in the mountains of central Mexico!

Why would this tiny insect make such a monumental journey? The answer lies in the monarch's food plant, the Milkweed.

POINT PELEE INFORMATION

Point Pelee National Park of Canada
407 Monarch Lane, RR 1
Leamington, Ontario
Canada
N8H 3V4

Phone:519-322-2365
Toll Free:1-888-773-8888
TTY:1-866-787-6221 Fax:519-322-1277
Email: pelee.info@pc.gc.ca

Point Pelee Info ...

Point Pelee Spring Migration (Bird)
Renowned as the best location in inland North America to observe the northward migration of songbirds

Discover Pelee
Lots of information about the Pelee area - Camping, Bed & Breakfasts, Motels and Camping

Discovery Channel - Canada's National Parks
If bird watching is your thing, then Pelee should certainly be at the top of your list of destinations. There is scarcely another place in North America that features as many birds as this park as almost 350 different species of bird have been spotted here.