Witness the Marvels of Migration – Take Part in Hawk Watch at Port Burwell

Marvels of Migration: Hawk Watch
Sundays September 7, 14, 21, 28, October 5, 12 and Saturday September 27
9:00 a.m.- 12:00 noon
All watches will be held in the Day Use area in Parking Lot 5

Fall is bursting with colour - and it’s not just the leaves on the trees. The skies are filled with migrating birds and butterflies eager to escape the cold Canadian winter. And what better place to view this seasonal transition than Port Burwell Provincial Park, on Lake Erie, south of Tillsonburg in Southwestern Ontario.

As birds flock south for the winter, curious naturalists flock to Port Burwell’s Hawk Watch to see them off. It is one of the best locations in Southwestern Ontario to see the fall migration of Sharp-shinned Hawks and other birds of prey, from Turkey Vultures to Bald Eagles, as they embark on their journey southward.

Every Sunday morning from September 7 to October 12, and on Saturday September 27, naturalists will be on site to assist wildlife enthusiasts, in identifying birds, as they fly along the Lake Erie shorelines of Port Burwell.

Hawk Watch, is entering its 5th year and park officials hope to make it an annual spectator sport.

“Hawks migrating along the north shore of Lake Erie are spectacular at this time of year, and with its extensive visitor facilities, Port Burwell is an ideal location to see them,” suggests Park Superintendent Henry Valks.

Nineteen species of hawks, falcons, eagles and vultures have been recorded migrating along the Lake Erie shoreline at Port Burwell. Besides the more common species such as Broad-winged and Sharp-shinned hawks, viewers may be able to spot unusual or rare birds of prey from Bald Eagles to Osprey and Peregrine Falcons.

Superintendent Valks cannot guarantee all birds will be available for viewing on each scheduled Hawk Watch day, since bird migration is weather dependent. However, there is a pattern to how different species of birds migrate through Port Burwell.

The first raptors, the smaller hawks, move through in late August; the largest numbers in September; the greatest variety of species in October; and the last migrants push through in early December.

Other winged migrants include large numbers of Monarch Butterflies and Common Green Darners and goldfinches, waxwings, swallows and dozens of hummingbirds in early September, waves of Blues Jays numbering in the thousands in late September, and flocks of migrating crows numbering in the hundreds in mid-October.

The flying migrants come from the east and move west. Some days the birds pass by at tree top level and other days they are quite high. Some days the birds move along the beach side of the parking lot, other days they pass overhead, and some days they ride the updrafts along the ridge to the north of the parking lots. On a good day the migrants will be everywhere. This is what brings migration watchers back time and again.

It is not just campers at Port Burwell that partake in ‘Hawk Watch.’ The invitation is open to any one in the general public with an interest in the natural phenomenon of migration, including amateur and professional birders, to join in. Park officials encourage parking in the beach parking lots at Port Burwell during ‘Hawk Watch.’ The parking lots for beach-goers, especially parking lot #5, are great locations to witness the amazing spectacle of migration because they provide a commanding view of the eastern sky and the cliffs to the north. Bringing along a lawn chair would add to a more comforting view.

Superintendent Valks recommends spectators bring along binoculars and suitable warm dress, depending on the early morning weather. Naturalists are present at the park to assist, inform and identify the various birds that fly through. The public is also encouraged to explore the nearby trail and the beach.

Port Burwell Provincial Park is located on Lake Erie at the eastern end of Elgin County. It is about 40 minutes west of the Long Point area and 20 minutes south of Tillsonburg. The park is an undiscovered birder’s paradise. It is centrally located between the renowned birding areas of Long Point and Rondeau Provincial Parks, and Point Pelee National Park, so the quantity and quality of birding is excellent.

Port Burwell is spread out over an area of uplands and lowlands, separated by a step bluff. The campgrounds are located in the upland portion of the park. In the lowland area, an access road leads to the day use portion of the park, which includes sand flats and dunes, a beach area, and five beach parking lots. The campground closes after Thanksgiving. Although gated during the winter, the park is open for cross-country skiers or hikers to explore this quiet rural area.

For Hawk Watch and park information call 519-874-4691; to book a campsite visit www.OntarioParks.com

Excerpts from Dave Martin and Henry Valks, Port Burwell Provincial Park
With files from www.OntarioParks.com and Ontario Parks’ Marvels of Migration Brochure, produced through the generosity of Steelway Building Systems.
Compiled by Reena Besa, Public Relations Assistant, Ontario Parks