Pelee Island , Ontario

May 2010

In the spring I took a long weekend to visit Pelee Island and Point Pelee National Park. This is a great getaway as it is a 4 hour drive from Toronto.May is the height of the tourist season because of the yearly migration of birds. Pelee Island is part of an important flyway for migrating birds between Ohio and Point Pelee.So it is very popular with birders around this time of year.

Pelee Island is situated in Lake Erie 40 kms south of Canada’s mainland and is the southernmost populated point in Canada at latitude of 41 degrees. It has a permanent population of 256 residents and swells to over 1000 during the summer months. The island which sits on a bed of limestone has one of the mildest climates in the country making it an excellent area to grow grapes and produce wines. In fact the typical growing season is two weeks longer than the adjacent mainland.  The only way to get on the island is by ferry either out of Leamington or Kingsville. The ferry ride takes around one-and-a-half to two hours.

 There are many things to do on Pelee Island such as biking(The 34 km Lakeview Trail circles the entire island and passes the main attractions) , visiting Pelee Island winery, going for nature walks and browsing the local shops and galleries. There are 2 nature reserves which are a must visit: Lighthouse Point Nature Reserve and Fish Point Nature Reserve.

Pelee Island has many bike and hiking trails that provide access to unique environments and provide access to beaches, forests, sand dunes, marshes, wetlands and alvars.

 

Pelee Island trail lined with flowers



Hydrophyllum Appenduculatum is unique to Canada in the Carolinian zone. The flower blossoms on Pelee Island in spring and early summer

Pelee Island Lighhouse



Fish Point Nature Reserve

 

 

 

 

 

Point Pelee National Park, Canada

May 2010,

 

Point Pelee National Park is a triangular-shaped peninsula of land that extends into Lake Erie and is the southernmost point in mainland Canada. It is situated at the same latitude as northern California and is an important migration corridor for birds and butterflies over Lake Erie. Because of this, Point Pelee was established as a national park in 1918. This small national park is a little over 7 kms long by 3.5 kms wide and is composed of mainly marsh and woodland habitats. A good time to visit is in the spring when the park comes alive with hundreds of birds as they pass through on their annual migration. There are over 360 bird species that have been recorded in the park including the Yellow Warbler and Painted Bunting. In the fall, Point Pelee becomes a migration path for the Monarch Butterfly. But one can expect to see much more when visiting the park as it is home to the endangered prickly pear cactus, dragonflies, the eastern flying squirrel, the eastern spiny softshell turtle and Canada’s only lizard, the five-lined skink.

 

There are endless opportunities for things to do in the park including many interpretive programs and exhibits. The park has 8 self guided walking trails that bring you through marshes on raised boardwalks and a 35ft high observation tower that provides 360 views of the park. Canoes and bikes are available for rental.

Marsh Boardwalk