Park prepares for visitors as Festival of Birds kicks off

The 2024 Festival of Birds gets underway at Point Pelee National Park today (Wednesday, May 1) and park officials are expecting the usual influx of visitors to the area — many from all around the world.

Parks Canada Product Development Officer Meaghan Ruston sat down with The Sun last week to discuss what visitors — and locals — can expect from this year’s festival.

With visitors already starting to creep into the area last week, Ruston said park staff have been busy preparing for the busiest time of year for the park.

“It’s a really great time in the park,” she said. “We are already seeing an uptick in visitors.”

Among the programs planned are hikes and talks dedicated to savannah restoration, wildflower walks, birding hikes and the popular 100-species birdwatching challenge.

Twilight hikes will explore the DeLaurier Trail with a chance to view the unique courtship of the American Woodcock.

Ruston said several species have been spotted and recorded in the park prior to the festival and she expects plenty of recorded sightings during the festival which runs through May 20.

For locals, the park welcomes them to come and enjoy the festival as well, with a caution that lineups may be long to get into the park due to all of the extra activity.

“We encourage the community to come into the park to experience the festival,” she said. “We’ll have both gates open at the entrance, so those with passes may experience some back-up.”

Ruston said the best time to come would be Monday through Friday as the weekend will be very busy. Parking may become an issue as the park fills up.

As usual, the Friends of Point Pelee will be on hand outside the Visitor Centre to offer nourishment from 7 am until 2 pm, offering baked goods, barbecue and both vegan and non-vegan chili.

Friends of Point Pelee president Laurie Hart says they will also be accepting debit and credit cards this year, as well as cash.

Also new for this year, the Friends will have a kiosk inside the Visitor Centre, just outside their Nature Nook store, where they will have someone available for directions and to answer any questions they can.

Hart says that this year’s festival will be the first official festival for their manager Celeste Stephens, who has worked tirelessly for the group over the past year.

Stephens says that about 40 people will volunteer for the Friends of Point Pelee activities during the Festival of Birds.