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As I mentioned in my previous blog post, I split my time this spring between Pelee Island and various birding hotspots on the north shore of Lake Erie (Point Pelee, Rondeau, Long Point). Pelee Island holds a special place in my heart as I went on several childhood camping trips there with my grandparents, and these trips were instrumental in fostering my love of snakes. After going over twelve years between visits to Pelee Island, I finally returned in the spring of 2022. Normally I spend most of May at Point Pelee, but I was becoming a little disillusioned with how busy the park had become during the Festival of Birds, and I was hoping to escape the crowds and really focus on the birds. I have returned in the two springs since. This year I spent five nights on the island. Not nearly enough time mind you, but it was great to get away for a few days.  Pelee Island sunset
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May is the most wonderful time of year here in the Great Lakes region, if you are a birder, that is. The first three weeks of May are when the largest quantities of Neotropical migrant birds appear in Ontario, eager to reach their breeding grounds to create the next generation of their species, after spending the previous half-year at their winter homes in the Caribbean, Central America, the Andes and the Amazon basin. As I write this it is May 20. We are a touch past the peak of spring migration, but many millions of birds are still winging their way north each night, and will continue to do so for several more weeks. Spring migration can continue to June 10 or even later, with the stragglers including things like cuckoos, flycatchers, and several warbler species like Blackburnian, Magnolia, Blackpoll and Wilson's to name a few.  Magnolia Warbler - Point Pelee National Park |
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