Canadian World Traveller Fallr 2016 issue American World Traveler Fall 2016 issue | Page 82

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here’s a saying amongst birdwatchers that “birding is not a destination, it’s a journey”. However, for
birds, birders and travelers in general who
seek an inspiring vacation in an equally
inspiring destination, you may be surprised
to discover that the journey to Ontario’s
Southwest provides enticing, exciting and
energizing options that include not only one
of the greatest bird migration areas in all of
North America, but also family fun, adventure, artisanal foods, cheeses, craft beers,
wines, chocolates, ultra-friendly locals, and
more.

Lambton, Middlesex, London and Oxford,
our journey honed in on the very southwest
corner of the province where, particularly in
the Spring and Fall, hundreds of thousands
of visitors descend upon this very special
area. Although many are energetic travelers, the majority are migratory birds that are
seeking the trinity of vacation pleasures:
relaxation, safety and food. And with the
ideal of ‘location, location, location’ as their
guide, both people and birds look to three
migratory airports on Lake Erie: Point Pelee
National Park, Rondeau Provincial Park and
Long Point Provincial Park.

While the region encompasses five Ontario
counties along Lake Erie as well as Sarnia

According to Tom Hince, a former Park
Naturalist at Point Pelee, bird host and producer on the Discovery Channel and one of

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North America’s top birding experts, “it’s all
about the songbirds…and the warblers are
the gems”. In early to mid-May, there are
typically 36 species of Warblers in the three
parks including the rare, stunning- yellow
Prothonotary Warbler, of which there are
only 20 mating pairs in all of Canada.
The Spring Birding Festival is concentrated at
Point Pelee, which was conceived to be a
park by nature lovers and ornithologists such
as William Saunders and Jack Miner. Today
there are beautiful trails throughout the Park
for strolling, wandering and observing as
well as bicycling and in warmer-months,
swimming, canoeing and kayaking. A train
is available for visitors who wish to go to the