Festival of Birds resumes at Point Pelee

By Mark Ribble

The Friends of Point Pelee — now in their 41st year — are jumping back into the swing of things this month with Point Pelee’s annual Festival of the Birds in partnership with Parks Canada.

After a two-year hiatus for the festival, ‘Friends’ President Laurie Hart is glad to see so many faces making their way to Point Pelee.

“We’re so happy to be able to be here this year,” she said. “It’s so exciting to have the festival running.”

The Festival of Birds runs through May 23 and the Friends of Point Pelee will be there every morning, supplying breakfast for birders and organizing guided hikes through the woodland trails of Point Pelee.

Birding enthusiasts visiting Point Pelee National Park come from all walks of life and all areas of the globe. These five birders — all from Quebec — were hiking the Woodland Trail behind the Visitor Centre on Monday, May 9, where they said that birding had been slow due to the windy conditions. From left are Jean Chatigny, Reme Regnauld, Jacinthe St. Laurent, Pierre Jasmine and Linda Cloutier. They all said they’d been coming to Point Pelee for birding for a few years prior to the pandemic.

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For years, the Friends have been putting on breakfast and lunch for birders, but the pandemic has affected the number of volunteers available, so it was decided to just go with breakfast, which consists of muffins, cookies, croissants and other continental type items. The former lunch and learn sessions have been replaced by a ‘Spotlight On’ series. Visitors can take the 100 species challenge and earn a pin for their troubles.

Resource Conservation Technician for Point Pelee, Emma Burbidge, will be giving a brief overview on the marsh restoration project, including up close looks at the Pelee Skimmer and the Pelee Muncher — two vessels taking on the task of marsh restoration.

For Laurie Hart and her husband Dave — who is also the Vice President of the Friends of Point Pelee — it’s somewhat of a return to normal after two unusually quiet years.

Laurie and Dave Hart at Marsh Boardwalk inside Point Pelee National Park.

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While people still came to the park in large numbers, the birding festival’s absence left a large gap in visitor numbers in the early spring.

Now, things are picking up and the Harts couldn’t be more delighted. “It’s great to see people’s faces,” adds Dave. The Friends are planning a big celebration next year — COVID permitting — as they celebrate their 42nd anniversary on the 42nd parallel.

“We’d like to do something on a larger scale,” says Laurie.

She says that the Friends of Point Pelee are always looking at different ways to enhance visitor experience and lots of ideas are being explored, including a concert at the Visitor Centre in June.

Windsor Classic Chorale will present ‘One With Nature’ on Sunday, June 12 at the Visitor Centre with shows at 2 pm and 4 pm. Face masks and vaccination proof are required for these shows. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Friends of Point Pelee. Tickets are $20 each (includes park admission). Visit windsorclassicchorale.org or give the Friends a call at 519-326-6173.