Migration, Permits and Plovers: May 2026
A look at what's migrating through Ontario as the province approves permits Grassy Narrows First Nation says could worsen the mercury crisis the community faces, and Plovers have returned to Wasaga!
MAY IN REVIEW
Howdy everyone, I hope you have all been doing well.
Spring finally seems to have settled into Ontario, with warmer, more seasonal temperatures finally upon us. But it’s worth mentioning this summer might “simmer instead of sizzle,” according to the Weather Network.
This month, your Field & Shutter Press team (aka Hayley and me) travelled down to Point Pelee National Park to witness some of the spring bird migration. We’ve both got some articles in the works, but we’ve included a brief photo selection for you in this month’s issue, so keep scrolling!
Speaking of migrating birds, Wasaga Beach has seen two Piping Plovers return for the 2026! We’ve got more details below.
Lastly, I also contributed a new piece to The Narwhal, which is included in this month’s issue. It covers the recent issuance of mining permits that could worsen the mercury crisis Grassy Narrows First Nation is facing. Please take the opportunity to read it.
Until the next one
-Greg
Grassy Narrows is taking steps to appeal mine permits that could worsen the mercury crisis
Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek (Grassy Narrows First Nation) has taken the first step to appeal two permits issued to the mining company, Kinross Gold, that would allow the taking and discharge of water, which Grassy Narrows says would worsen the mercury crisis the community already faces.
You can read the full story over at The Narwhal, “Grassy Narrows seeks to appeal Ontario mine permits over mercury concerns.”
“The birds are back in town,” says Town of Wasaga Beach
The Town of Wasaga Beach announced on May 28 that two Piping Plovers have returned to the beach. Plovers have nested in Wasaga Beach since 2008, after returning to Ontario in 2007 following decades of absence.
This comes as the Town recently passed a new Beach Use Bylaw, which will protect both wildlife and the environment, with fines of up to $3,000 for “harming or disturbing wildlife” and up to $2,500 for “damaging vegetation or natural features,” the Town says. They also said that “Piping Plover stewardship training” has been made mandatory for all staff.
No Person shall damage, deface, remove, or otherwise interfere with any municipal property, natural feature, heritage feature, or other object located within any Beach Area;
No Person shall feed, attempt to feed, or leave food or other attractants for wildlife, birds, or fish within any Beach Area;
No Person shall disturb, cut, remove, damage, or otherwise harm any plant, dune, tree, or natural object located within any Beach Area;
No Person shall disturb, harass, kill, remove, or harm any animal, bird, or fish within any Beach Area, except in accordance with applicable federal or provincial law, including the Species at Risk Act (SARA), Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, Migratory Birds Convention Act, and Fisheries Act;
- Town of Wasaga Beach By-Law 2026-39, A By-law to protect, prohibit, regulate and promote responsible enjoyment and use of the Beach Areas of the Town of Wasaga Beach, section 9, conduct and prohibited activities.
Wasaga Beach now has a stewardship team composed of Parks staff, Beachfront Ambassadors and two “Destination Wasaga Piping Plover Technicians,” which were announced earlier this month.
“We’re proud of our parks, communications, and municipal law enforcement teams who are leading this work on the ground, with support from Birds Canada and our provincial and federal partners,” said Mayor of Wasaga Beach, Brian Smith, in a press release.
The Town also said on May 4 that they started installing “educational and interpretive signage along the critical habitat zone” of the Piping Plover to help residents and visitors understand and support the recovery of the plovers during the nesting season.
Ford government expands Uxbridge Urban Provincial Park
On May 29, the Ford government announced that Uxbridge Urban Provincial Park would expand by 23 acres to protect important ecological lands within the Oak Ridges Moraine while also increasing local tourism and economic growth.
The land, approximately the size of “12 Canadian football fields,” as the province described it, is being transferred from Metrolinx and will become part of the park’s northern boundary. It could potentially host new trails and parking to support outdoor recreation, according to the province.
“We want Uxbridge Urban Provincial Park to be a place where families and future generations can connect with nature close to home,” said Todd McCarthy, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.
The park is Ontario’s first Urban Provincial Park, first announced in 2023 and opened in July of 2024. The expansion is part of a $19 million three-year commitment the province made in 2024.
May migration at Point Pelee National Park
At the southernmost point of mainland Canada, in southern Ontario, you will find Point Pelee National Park, just as thousands of migrating birds do on their migration routes every spring.
Point Pelee is unique because of how far it extends into Lake Erie, providing the perfect landing site for birds to rest as they cross the lake into Canada on their northerly migration routes. Because of this, the park, through its supporters, Friends of Point Pelee, hold an annual Festival of Birds in May, attracting birders from around the world.
This year, The Field & Shutter Press was there to capture some of these spring migrants. A photo essay is in preparation for the June issue, but in the meantime, we invite you to enjoy this small selection of images.
Prothonotary warbler (Protonotaria citrea)
Point Pelee National Park is one of the few places in Canada where this warbler can be found. According to Birds Canada, there are believed to be only about 30 individuals in the entire country.
Blackburnian warbler (Setophaga fusca)
These warblers tend to be a fan favourite due to their bold colouring; no other warblers have an orange throat, according to Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s website, All About Birds.
Black-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus erythropthalmus)
You’re not “cuckoo” if you’ve never seen one of these birds before; they’re known to spend their time deep in the forests and perch motionless, making spotting them quite difficult. According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s All About Birds website, the oldest known Black-billed Cuckoo was found in Connecticut in 1969, having been banded in Ontario in 1965, making it at least 4 years old.
THE FIELD & SHUTTER PRESS
FEATURES & INVESTIGATIONS
From 36 to 9: Ontario’s conservation authority overhaul and what it means for Halton
The Ford government passed Bill 97, the Plan to Protect Ontario Act, an omnibus budget bill, on April 23, with the Bill receiving Royal Assent on April 24. The province’s 36 Conservation Authorities will now officially consolidate into nine regional bodies, a move the province says will streamline approvals but critics warn could weaken local watershed management.
Ontario bill doesn’t rule out privatization of water, legal opinion finds
Ontario’s government has promised that proposed corporations to manage water and wastewater will be entirely publicly owned. But an opinion from a University of British Columbia law professor called the legislation an example of “stealth privatization” of the municipal services.
By: Brett McKay, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter and Carly Penrose, Investigative Journalism Foundation
IN OTHER NEWS
In the “In Other News” section, we’ll share interesting updates and discoveries from the past month. Expect highlights on photography, nature, wildlife, conservation, and environmental topics.
Greenbelt home to 70% more species at risk than twenty years ago, according to Ontario Nature report
Published on: 23/MAY/2026
The new report explains how the number of at-risk species living in the Greenbelt has outpaced provincial trends, highlighting the Greenbelt's important role. Click here to read more
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