Festival of Birds

Point Pelee National Park

 
Yellow Warbler

The Friends of Point Pelee and Point Pelee National Park invite you to celebrate spring migration at the 2025 Festival of Birds from May 1 to May 19. We’re happy to welcome you back!

  • Learn about Savannah restoration and how it benefits birds
  • Purchase exclusive Festival merchandise featuring the Sandhill Crane
  • Complete the 100 Species Challenge and earn the limited-edition Yellow Warbler pin
 

Birding Hikes

Join an experienced hike leader for a two-hour hike you’ll never forget!

  • Morning hikes leave from the Visitor Centre and focus on songbirds.
  • Catch up with migrating songbirds later in the day! Afternoon north-end hikes begin at the Northwest Beach parking lot.
  • Twilight hikes explore the DeLaurier Trail, with the chance to view the courtship display of the American Woodcock.

All hikes require pre-registration

Programs

Spotlight on…

Piping Plover

Join us in the Visitor Centre theatre, where our experts will spotlight special topics each day. The sessions will focus on various topics, from birding basics to bird song identification to restoration work in the park.

See the calendar of events for the programs that are available during your visit.

Wildflower Walks

Bee resting on purple wildflowers

Give your neck a break by looking down instead of up! Learn about the beautiful wildflowers that bloom in May, as well as other plants that might not normally catch your eye. Join park staff for a 1.5-hour walk introducing you to some of the special plants found at Point Pelee.

May 8 at 10:30 a.m. 

May 16 at 1:00 p.m. 

Meet at the Visitor Centre

Included with park admission.

Registration required

Birding with Pride

Blue Jay

Join your hosts, the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) for an open house and birding hikes. Enjoy refreshments and learn about OFO and join experience birders for a morning or early afternoon walk. This walk is a celebration of the LGBTQ2S+ community, but all members of the birding community are welcome.

May 3 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Hikes at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Northwest Beach Pavilion

No registration required.

Art Windsor Essex Workshops

Discover the art of shadow drawing with the sun as your guide! Join artist Emily Conlon at Point Pelee National Park, where you'll capture the unique shadows of plants and trees to create stunning abstract artwork.

May 3, 1 p.m.

Location: Visitor Centre Classroom

Audience: Ages 10 and up

Facilitator: Emily Conlon

Fee: $10 – single; $25 – family (up to 5 people) 

Registration required

Botanical Sun Prints - Explore photographic printing techniques during this family-friendly activity to create images that utilize the sun and other natural materials.

May 4, 1:00 p.m.

Location: Blue Heron

Audience: Families and Kids

Facilitator: Sarah Smitherman

Fee: $10 – single; $25 – family (up to 5 people) 

Registration required

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