Capturing May migration at Canada’s southernmost mainland point
Point Pelee National Park becomes a birding hotspot in May as hundreds of different species migrate through.
At the southernmost mainland point in Canada, thousands of birds migrating north will arrive, alongside thousands of visitors to Point Pelee National Park, including The Field & Shutter Press this May.
Beyond being an outdoor destination, the park serves as an important stopping point for birds, as it’s the first piece of land encountered by them as they make their way across Lake Erie. It allows them to rest and recharge along their journeys.
Point Pelee National Park’s unique location offers a chance to see many different species, including rare and uncommon travelers as they pass through. This has brought the park international attention as people travel from all over the world to witness the migration.
The park even hosts an annual Festival of Birds through its supporting organization, the Friends of Point Pelee.
During several days spent photographing spring migration at Point Pelee National Park, we encountered a wide variety of species. Here are some that stood out during our time there this May.
Warblers
One of those uncommon birds mentioned actually calls Point Pelee National Park home: the Prothonotary warbler.
According to Birds Canada, there are only an estimated 30 individuals of this species in the entire country, making it a federally at-risk species. They only nest along the shores of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.
Another similarly coloured warbler, a frequent sight throughout the park, was the Yellow Warbler.
Recent taxonomic updates in 2025 for these warblers split the group into the Northern Yellow Warbler in North America, and the separate Mangrove Yellow Warbler found in coastal mangroves farther south.
We also encountered a few Chestnut-sided Warblers, named for the chestnut-colored streaks along their sides.
The only warbler with an orange throat, the Blackburnian Warbler, could be found hunting for bugs high in the canopy. This one, in particular, appears to have caught an inchworm (a Geometrid Moth).
Orioles
Amid all the fresh spring greenery, these vibrant orange-coloured birds stood out and made a statement: the Baltimore Oriole. These were a frequent sighting throughout the park in May, but sometimes we were the ones being spotted.
Some were a bit more tied up with things, as they worked to build their nests.
According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Baltimore Orioles build distinctive hanging, sock-like nests woven from a variety of fibres, and these nests typically take about a week to construct.
Although not pictured, Orchard Orioles could also be heard around the park at times.
Vireos
Red-eyed Vireos could often be heard but not seen, as they tend to stay high in the trees.
In the right lighting, it becomes very apparent why they were named after the colour of their eye.
Another vireo, the Philadelphia Vireo, was also spotted around the park.
Cuckoos
It’s often difficult to spot these birds, as they spend lots of time staying perfectly still, typically deep in the dense foliage, but this Black-billed Cuckoo was briefly out in the open.
Flycatchers
Great Crested Flycatchers are another bird that tends to stay high in the canopy, although they are a common bird when they venture to Ontario to breed.
Herons
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology reports that the Green Heron is known to make lures from bread, bugs, or feathers to catch small fish.
Waxwings
These Cedar Waxwings were spotted near “the tip” of Point Pelee.
They made quick work of the berries and fruits on the trees left over from the previous seasons.
The tip at Point Pelee extends into Lake Erie and offers a great opportunity to spot shorebirds.
For bird watchers, Point Pelee offers an amazing opportunity to see many rare species and common species alike as they are funneled through the park each spring. For more information about the spring migration at Point Pelee, visit the Festival of Birds website or Parks Canada.
Editor's note: This article is a personal essay or reflection. It contains editorial perspective and opinion.
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