Pelee Island Bird Observatory

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Pelee Island Bird Observatory The Pelee Island Bird Observatory is a non-profit organisation devoted to the study and conservation of birds. paypal.com/ca/fundraiser/charity/3458329

To donate to PIBO use Facebook's PayPal Giving link: paypal.com/ca/fundraiser/charity/3458329

- “Birdwatching is close to rapture.” Pelee Island Bird Observatory Founding Honorary Chair Margaret Atwood reflects ...
08/10/2026

- “Birdwatching is close to rapture.”

Pelee Island Bird Observatory Founding Honorary Chair Margaret Atwood reflects on the wonder of birds in a recent feature in the The Guardian!

Margaret Atwood recently donated C$1 million to establish the Graeme Gibson Chair in Avian Biology at the Western University, celebrating her late partner’s love of birds and supporting future avian research.

We’re especially pleased to see Pelee Island featured in this story. Read more about Atwood’s gift, Pelee Island, and the importance of bird research in The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/books/ng-interactive/2026/sep/25/margaret-atwood-birds-conservation-optimistic-future

It was a wonderful weekend for nature lovers in Essex County! PIBO staff joined the Ontario Field Ornithologists’ (OFO) ...
05/10/2026

It was a wonderful weekend for nature lovers in Essex County! PIBO staff joined the Ontario Field Ornithologists’ (OFO) annual convention in Leamington and Point Pelee, and celebrated Ojibway Park’s 50th anniversary.

We kicked things off with a BIG SIT at the DeLaurier Homestead Trail parking lot, where members of the Windsor Feminist Bird Club, Essex County Field Naturalists, OFO and visitors recorded 74 bird species. Raptors and songbirds kept arriving throughout the morning, making for a memorable start to this beautiful fall day.

PIBO staff then joined the thefriendsofojibwayprairie at the Ojibway Nature Centre Ojibway Nature Centre to celebrate the park’s huge milestone.

That evening, we hosted a PIBO booth at the OFO convention dinner at the Roma Club in Leamington, where we connected with fellow bird enthusiasts and heard from guest speaker Amar Ayyash, author of The Gull Guide: North America.

The OFO encourages the study and appreciation of birds across Ontario through guided hikes, webinars, and programs for young birders. We appreciate all that they do and were thrilled to take part this weekend. Follow their work or consider becoming a member!

Fall migration is still underway for the rest of October! We will see a large number of blackbirds, robins, sparrows, ki...
04/10/2026

Fall migration is still underway for the rest of October! We will see a large number of blackbirds, robins, sparrows, kinglets and Yellow-rumped Warblers coming.

October 1st was quiet morning in the netting area with banding only a total of 9 birds of 7 species. Although, on the census, there were dozens of Blackpolls and Bey-breasted Warblers at the tip, and a total of 58 species was observed including Chimney Swift, Northern Waterthrush, Blackburnian Warbler, and Yellow-bellied Flycatcher.

On October 2nd it had been raining a lot during the night and early morning. Only the census and the observation in the netting area were done and it was quiet morning overall. A Short-billed Dowitcher, some Sanderlings and a Spotted Sandpiper were seen during the census.

On October 3rd flocks of sparrows, blackbirds and hundreds of Blue Jays started showing up. On the census many Swamp, Song, and White-throated Sparrows were observed at the pond and some White-crowned and Chipping Sparrows were along the west beach. The highlight was a season first Rusty Blackbird observed along with a group of Red-winged Blackbirds. The banding was also busy and a total of 152 birds of 24 species were banded including 40 Hermit Thrushes, 28 Golden-crowned and 22 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, 11 White-throated Sparrows, and 10 Swainson’s Thrushes.
(Photo: Ruby-crowned Kinglet and Chipping Sparrow)

This September, PIBO hosted a BIG SIT at the tip of Fish Point Nature Reserve! A BIG SIT is a birding event where partic...
02/10/2026

This September, PIBO hosted a BIG SIT at the tip of Fish Point Nature Reserve! A BIG SIT is a birding event where participants stay in one spot for a set amount of time and count every bird species they see.

Strong southerly winds kept bird numbers down, but there was plenty of wildlife to enjoy. The day began with a special sighting: BIG SIT leader Rob Tymstra spotted a doe and fawn along the trail. Offshore, cormorants, pelicans, and gulls gathered in large rafts on the island’s west side.

By day’s end, we had recorded 32 bird species, including Baird’s Sandpiper, Black-bellied Plover, and Peregrine Falcon. We also spotted an impressive variety of insects: seven dragonfly species and nine butterfly species!

A big thank-you to the 17 people who joined us to bird, explore, and learn about the BIG SIT.

Couldn’t make it to the island? Join the OFO - Ontario Field Ornithologists and Windsor Feminist Bird Club -Windsor Feminist Bird Club for their BIG SIT this Saturday at Point Pelee, along the DeLaurier Homestead Trail, from 8 a.m. to noon. PIBO staff will be there, too!

From September 27th to 30th our banding was getting slower day by day.On the 27th an Eastern Screech Owl was banded at t...
01/10/2026

From September 27th to 30th our banding was getting slower day by day.

On the 27th an Eastern Screech Owl was banded at the first net-round and a total of 68 of 25 species was banded including 20 Swainson’s Thrushes, 6Black-throated Blue Warblers, 5 Ovenbirds. The census recorded a good diversity of species including quite a few Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Yellow-rumper Warblers and 80 species was reported as the daily total.

On the 28th many sparrows and Common Yellowthroat and Yellow-rumped Warblers, Ruby-crowned Kinglets were seen at the pond during the census. Also, a Sora spotted in a small open water under shrubs along the pond. A total of 68 birds of 23 species was banded including 11 Swainson’s Thrushes, 9 Brown Creepers,

September 29th became much quieter than the day before, many Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglets were seen high up in the canopy, but we didn’t catch many of them. A total of 42 birds were banded including 15 Swainson’s Thrushes along with 11 other species. On the census quite a few sparrows and season first Scaup species were observed, and a late Indigo Bunting was spotted.

On the last day of September (the 30th) we observed quite a few raptors including two Peregrine Falcons and three Merlins were actively hunting in the area during the census. In the netting area two Sharp-shinned Hawks were captured along with a Cooper’s Hawk flew into the net once and bounced back. A total of 29 birds including 17 thrushes were banded.
(Photo: Bay-breasted Warbler, Pablo and Brian banding Sharp-shinned Hawks)

From September 25th to 26th our banding has slowed down although raptor migration started picking up. On the 25th we ban...
26/09/2026

From September 25th to 26th our banding has slowed down although raptor migration started picking up.

On the 25th we banded a total of 58 birds of 21 species including 12 Magnolia Warblers, 4 American Redstart, and 21 thrushes. The census was busy and a total of 64 species was recorded including 7 Sharp-shinned, 1 Cooper’s Hawks, and 6 American Kestrels. Many Winter Wrens, Brown Creepers, and a Scarlet Tanager were observed as well.

This morning (the 26th) was a great day for observing the raptor migration. On the census 27 Sharp-shinned Hawks, 3 American Kestrels, 2 Merlins, 3 Northern Harriers, and 1 Peregrine Falcon was recorded. Also, a good diversity of sparrow species - Swamp, Lincoln’s, Song, and White-throated Sparrow, Eastern Towhee – were seen at the pond. The netting area got quieter than yesterday except a flock of Blue Jays bombing acorns to our banding lab. A total of 27 birds of 12 species were banded. There were quite a few Ruby-crowned Kinglet seen on the census, but we only have banded a few of them so far.
(Photo: Scarlet Tanager)

DYK? It’s !Organized each year by FLAP Canada, the goal of Global Bird Rescue is to raise awareness about bird-building...
26/09/2026

DYK? It’s !
Organized each year by FLAP Canada, the goal of Global Bird Rescue is to raise awareness about bird-building collisions - and what we can do to help prevent them.
We are making real progress at reducing collisions on Pelee Island! Have you spotted the new upgrades at the Pelee Island Ferry Terminal?
Last year, FLAP Canada staff Brendon and PIBO’s Director of Regional Programs and Operations Suzanne reached out to the Owen Sound Transportation Company to discuss renovations of the ferry terminal building on the island. Based on this feedback, the operator decided to treat the glass on the building with Feather Friendly commercial film. We congratulate and thank the ferry operator for leading by example!
The dots on the glass are an important design feature that helps prevent collisions by alerting birds to the presence of a physical barrier. This is especially needed on Pelee Island, where many migratory bird species pass through during annual migrations. By treating these particular windows, all residents and visitors to the island arriving by ferry will pass right by a highly visible example of a bird safe building. Information about solutions for preventing collisions is available at the new Atwood-Gibson Bird Centre on the island.
Why does this matter? An estimated 16–42 million birds die from window collisions in Canada each year. 💔Many bird species at risk of extinction are threatened by collisions, including Canada Warblers, Wood Thrush and other migrants passing through Pelee Island. Treating glass, including windows and railings, with patterns of visual markers, is a simple and inexpensive way we can protect birds.
Next time you’re at the terminal, take a closer look at the dots on the glass, and remember: we have the power to make a positive difference. 🐦💚

Migration was continuously active from September 23rd to 24th. On September 23rd we banded a total of 200 birds of 25 sp...
25/09/2026

Migration was continuously active from September 23rd to 24th.

On September 23rd we banded a total of 200 birds of 25 species including 51 Magnolia, 14 Nashville, 12 Bay-breasted, 11 Tennessee Warblers along with another eight warbler species, and 21 Swainson’s and 17 Gray-cheeked Thrushes. The census was also busy although the strong south-east wind gave the census conductor a hard time identifying warblers hiding in shrubs. A total of 50 species including a Connecticut Warbler was recorded.

On September 24th both the netting and census area was relatively quieter than the day before. A total of 88 birds of 21 species were banded including 33 thrushes, and 12 Magnolia Warblers and a total of 43 species were recorded during the census. Eastern Wood-Pewee and Yellow-bellied Flycatchers are still observed and more Brown Creepers, Winter Wrens and Ruby-crowned Kinglets started showing up.
(Photo: Bald Eagle)

After the rainy days from September 19th to 20th we are seeing many birds coming through the area. On September 21 a tot...
22/09/2026

After the rainy days from September 19th to 20th we are seeing many birds coming through the area.

On September 21 a total of 104 birds of 21 species were banded including 33 Magnolia along with 9 other warbler species, and 28 thrushes. On the census 3 American Kestrels and 3 Merlins were recorded along with some Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s Hawks. A total of 16 warbler species were observed for the morning.

September 22nd was another busy morning. A total of 185 birds were banded including 64 Magnolia Warblers, 15 Bay-breasted, 15 Black-throated Blue Warblers, 13 American Redstart, 19 Swainson’s Thrushes, and a season first Sharp-shinned Hawk. Despite the strong winds and raptors in the area there was still a good variety of warblers on census. Also, some Yellow-bellied and Great- Flycatchers, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, and a Yellow-billed Cuckoo were seen. As non-standard observation 21 American Kestrels were observed from the roadside on our way back to home.
(Photo: Northern Parula)

**Note: PIBO banding takes place under federal scientific permits issued by the Canadian Wildlife Service and PIBO strictly follows the ethical guidelines set by the North American Banding Council. Wild birds are protected by federal legislation and should not be handled without proper permits and training**

According to our monarch count during the 90 minutes census (bird count), the number increased on September 17th with co...
20/09/2026

According to our monarch count during the 90 minutes census (bird count), the number increased on September 17th with counting 21. From the 19th to 20th it was raining during the census, but a few monarchs had been seen under the rain - 12 on the Sep 19th and 13 on the Sep 20th.

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Fish Point Provincial Nature Reserve

N0R1M0

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+15199827426

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