Point
Pelee and Ohio
Waves of Migrating Birds
Some
of the continent's finest spring birdwatching awaits us at Point Pelee
National Park in Ontario and Magee Marsh in northwestern
Ohio. Our goal is 30 species
of warbler,
including Prothonotory, Cerulean, Hooded (above), Kentucky, and perhaps
Kirtland's (shown to the right from Pt. Pelee). But the waves of migrants
at these hotspots will include tanagers and thrushes, orioles and grosbeaks,
pouring from the skies.
This trip is also an opportunity to spend quality
time with shorebirds and hawks. We've seen King
Rail on this outing. And chances are good that something odd -- like
a Ruff or a Western Tanager (Bryan has seen both at Pt. Pelee) -- will
make an appearance.
The trip begins in Detroit on May 7; you'll fly into Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) or drive to meet us that evening at Magee Marsh, where we
usually get walkaway looks at Cerulean and Hooded warblers, among many
others. We'll bird often at Magee Marsh Wildlife Area (formerly Creek State Park), where sonbirds
are often within arm's reach. One of Bryan's favorite Ohio diversions is a short trip to prairie habitat, where we find Lark Sparrows and Blue-winged Warblers, among many other delights, singing on breeding territories.
From
Ohio, we drive to the legendary Pt. Pelee, a penninsula pointing
south into Lake Erie in Ontario, Canada. It is the first landfall for countless neotrpoical
migrant songbirds crossing the lake. We'll hope for a fallout, but
we can always expect to get close to warblers and other songbirds tired
out from the crossing. A Bell's Vireo at arm's length was a typical example during the 2011 trip. The shorebirding around Pt. Pelee can be excellent.
Logistics:
This trip begins and ends in Detroit for folks who fly. Drivers have other options.
The fee for the outing has yet to be determined. Included in this trip are breakfasts,
lodging, birding, a wine-and-cheese evening, park entrance fees and
permits and other goodies.
Vermont Bird Tours also adapts to your
transportation preferences. Bryan rents six-passenger
mini-vans whose cost six of us shall share equally. We also recognize
that some of you may drive on your own on this trip or group yourselves
into rental vehicles. We'll help to organize that.
