Jack Miner Migratory Bird Sanctuary

11/10/2026

✨ Local spotlight: The Jack Miner Migratory Bird Sanctuary

There's something special about discovering the history right in your own backyard 🦆🌿

Our team spent the day exploring Jack Miner Migratory Bird Sanctuary in Kingsville, a local landmark with a remarkable legacy of wildlife conservation!

The sanctuary has played an important role in protecting migratory birds and inspiring generations to appreciate the natural world. 🌎

Whether you're visiting for the first time or rediscovering a childhood favourite, Jack Miner is a local gem worth experiencing!

When was the last time you visited? 👇

11/10/2026

South Pond, November 10, 2026

11/10/2026

11/10/2026

These beautiful postcards, produced around 1925, offered visitors a glimpse of life at "Jack Miner's Wild Goose Ranch" nearly a century ago.

The collection showcases Jack Miner's home, the famous Wild Goose Ranch, Jack's beloved pet swans, and even a map promoting "Kingsville-on-the-Lake" as a destination. At a time when postcards were one of the primary ways people shared their travels, these images helped introduce thousands to Jack Miner's pioneering work in wildlife conservation.

Reading the descriptions today is like stepping back in time. In 1925, Kingsville was promoted as a thriving lakeside community with electric rail service, beautiful beaches, productive farms, and, of course, the opportunity to visit "The Wild Geese" and witness one of North America's earliest wildlife sanctuaries. While much has changed over the past century, Kingsville continues to be a vibrant destination where history, nature, agriculture, and tourism come together!

While the buildings, landscapes, and roads have changed over the last century, Jack Miner's vision remains the same--to provide a sanctuary for migratory birds while inspiring people to appreciate and conserve the natural world.

These postcards are more than souvenirs; they're snapshots of the early history of both our Sanctuary and our community. We're proud to preserve and share them as part of Jack Miner's enduring legacy.

Have you ever come across an old Jack Miner postcard or photograph in your family's collection? We'd love to see it! Feel free to share it with us in the comments!

💚 Support our mission:
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/the-jack-miner-migratory-bird-foundation-act/

🛍️ Gift Shop:
https://jackminer.ca/gift-shop/

📬 Newsletter:
https://jackminer.ca/newsletter/

11/09/2026

🌳 Jack Miner wasn't just a pioneer in bird conservation--he was also one of Essex County's earliest advocates for reforestation.

This fascinating 1925 newspaper article highlights a part of Jack Miner's legacy that is often overlooked.

At a time when much of Essex County's forests had been cleared for agriculture, Jack recognized the importance of trees--not only for wildlife but for the health of the land itself. In 1914, he began an ambitious reforestation project on what is now The Jack Miner Migratory Bird Sanctuary, planting 25,000 Scotch pines after experimenting with which species were best suited to the region's sandy soils and clay loam.

Just over a decade later, visitors were already marveling at the success of the project. The article describes trees that had grown from only a few inches tall to heights of 15 to 20 feet, creating a thriving forest visible for miles across the flat Essex County landscape.

The author also notes something we still recognize today: Jack understood that trees were more than scenery. They provided shelter for birds, protected farmland from damaging winds, and improved the health of the entire property. At a time when many farms had removed every tree to maximize production, Jack warned of the long-term consequences and demonstrated another way forward.

More than 100 years later, those early plantings continue to shape the Sanctuary. The forests that visitors enjoy today stand as a living reminder that conservation isn't just about protecting what's already here--it's about planting for future generations.

Jack Miner truly was ahead of his time.

💚 Support our mission:
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/the-jack-miner-migratory-bird-foundation-act/

🛍️ Gift Shop:
https://jackminer.ca/gift-shop/

📬 Newsletter:
https://jackminer.ca/newsletter/

11/06/2026

If you take a walk through the Sanctuary, you'll notice something special beyond the birds, forests, and trails.

A memorial bench where loved ones are remembered. A picnic table dedicated to family and friendship. A tree planted in someone's honour. A plaque on a building, a bird blind, or a quiet place that carries a name and a story.

Over the years, Jack's Sanctuary has become a sanctuary for our community.

Just as Jack Miner dedicated this place to the protection of wildlife and to inspiring people through nature, generations of families have made this place part of their own stories. They've celebrated milestones, remembered loved ones, honoured mentors and friends, and left lasting tributes that will be enjoyed by visitors for years to come.

Every dedication tells a story. Every plaque represents a life that mattered. Together, they remind us that conservation isn't just about protecting the natural world--it's also about preserving the connections between people, place, and community.

The next time you visit the Sanctuary, take a few extra moments to look around. Notice the names on the benches, the trees, the picnic tables, the bird blinds, the artwork, and the many quiet corners throughout the property. Each one is a small reminder that this place belongs not only to the birds, but also to the generations of people who have loved it.

Thank you to everyone who has helped make Jack's Sanctuary a sanctuary for ourselves, our families, and our community. ❤️

11/05/2026

We're excited to introduce a brand-new item in the Jack Miner Gift Shop--our Historical Jack Miner Band Stickers! 🦆

Created from a real scan of an authentic Fall 1954 Jack Miner bird band, these durable 2" × 4" vinyl stickers faithfully recreate one of the historic bands placed on migratory birds more than 70 years ago. Featuring one of Jack Miner's most recognizable inscriptions:

"Be Not Afraid, Only Believe" – Mark 5:36

For just $5, you can add a piece of conservation history to your:
💧 Water bottle
🧊 Yeti or tumbler
💻 Laptop
🚗 Vehicle bumper
🎣 Tackle box
📦 Cooler..or anywhere you'd like to show your support for the Sanctuary in true historical style.

Collectors, we've got good news! Our commemorative Jack Miner bands are now fully restocked, with every year from 2000–2026 once again available. If you've been waiting to complete your collection, now's your chance!

👀 And here's a question for our supporters... If these historical band stickers are popular, we'd love to release more designs featuring authentic Jack Miner bands from other years and the different Bible verses they carried. Which years or Biblical passages would you like to see next? Let us know in the comments--we'd love your feedback!

Every purchase helps support the conservation, education, and heritage work of The Jack Miner Migratory Bird Foundation.

Visit our Gift Shop in person or shop online to pick up yours today!
https://jackminer.ca/accessories/

💚 Support our mission:
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/the-jack-miner-migratory-bird-foundation-act/

🛍️ Gift Shop:
https://jackminer.ca/gift-shop/

📬 Newsletter:
https://jackminer.ca/newsletter/

11/04/2026

📸 A remarkable piece of Jack Miner history.

This photograph, taken circa 1915, shows the founding members of the Jack Miner Wild Life League gathered in front of Jack Miner's original "Oblookatory"--the very building that today serves as the Jack Miner Museum.

Long before conservation became a global movement, these local farmers, hunters, naturalists, and community leaders united around a shared purpose: protecting wildlife for future generations.

The Jack Miner Wild Life League became one of the earliest citizen-led wildlife conservation organizations in southwestern Ontario, promoting habitat stewardship, wildlife education, ethical hunting practices, and public involvement in conservation. At a time when few organizations were focused on protecting wildlife, the League helped pioneer a conservation ethic that would eventually be carried forward by countless conservation organizations, stewardship groups, and volunteers across Canada and the United States.

Like many early volunteer organizations, the League eventually fulfilled its purpose. As conservation matured into a broader movement following Jack Miner's passing in 1944, its mission lived on through The Jack Miner Migratory Bird Foundation, established to preserve Jack's conservation legacy, and through the many organizations and individuals who continue working to protect wildlife and natural habitats today.

More than a century later, we're proud to carry that vision forward through habitat conservation, one of North America's longest-running bird banding programs, outdoor education, scientific research, and by inspiring thousands of visitors and students each year to become the next generation of conservationists.

Do you recognize any of the faces in this historic photograph? We'd love to hear your stories or family connections in the comments below!

💚 Support our mission:
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/the-jack-miner-migratory-bird-foundation-act/

🛍️ Gift Shop:
https://jackminer.ca/gift-shop/

📬 Newsletter:
https://jackminer.ca/newsletter/

11/03/2026

A heartfelt thank you to Rotary Club of Kingsville Southshore for your continued support of Jack Miner's Sanctuary and for helping us share our mission with the community. We are incredibly grateful for your partnership and your commitment to conservation, environmental education, and preserving Jack Miner's enduring legacy. Your generosity and support make a meaningful difference, and we truly appreciate all that you do!

We were very happy to present a $1500.00 donation to Jack Miner Migratory Bird Sanctuary!
Pictured below is club member Dave Lebrun and Matthew Olewski, Executive Director.

Thank you Kingsville for your ongoing support.

Shout out as well to Chances Leamington and Charitable Gaming. Community Good.


Rotary Super District 6400