Bird Watching
A fascinating pastime, bird watching is becoming increasingly popular and the exciting opportunities in this region draw many tourists from afar to share in the pursuit of feathered friends with the locals.
Essex Region is home to a diverse variety of birds all through the year, and is also an important part of the Spring and Fall migratory routes. Migrating birds prefer to minimize time spent flying across open water and this county forms a peninsula dipping down into the Great Lakes providing birds with the shortest route across. At peak times, birds flock across the county in their thousands as the peninsula has a funneling effect.
Our Conservation Areas provide important resting areas as these birds make their long journeys, and also offer year round habitat for non-migratory birds. These Conservation Areas are equipped with convenient parking areas, pleasant trails and good viewing areas and some have viewing towers and informative signage so that everyone has the chance to experience the pleasure of bird watching.
Where to enjoy this activity
- Big Creek
Adjacent to Holiday Beach Conservation Area and draining into Lake Erie, Big Creek is located at the western tip of Lake Erie. It is the largest wetland in the area and attracts masses of migrating birds as they cross the lake at its narrowest point. - Cedar Creek
The Cedar Creek basin is probably the most significant, most extensive, and most beautiful natural area in the Essex Region. Go bird watching along the trails or drop a canoe in the water and explore by paddle power. You will be sure to see significant bird activity here. - Chrysler Canada Greenway
This 50 kilometre abandoned railway trail serves as a green link between important habitat areas. Bird watchers are sure to find many species of interest in the trees and vegetation along here. - Devonwood Conservation Area
With over 4.5 kilometres of trails through this beautiful and diverse woodland, there is always the opportunity to enjoy bird watching particularly with various owl species. Nature can be found even in the city! - Hillman Marsh Conservation Area
A significant and beautiful marsh habitat throughout the year, Hillman Marsh is particularly popular in May during the spring migration, especially with the addition of the Shorebird Habitat which commonly attracts rare species. The Spring Shore and Songbird Celebration event attracts hundreds of visitors. A birding trip to Hillman Marsh could easily be combined with a visit to nearby Kopegaron Woods Conservation Area. - Holiday Beach Conservation Area
Adjacent to Big Creek, the largest wetland area in the vicinity, Holiday Beach is one of the few remaining places offering appropriate breeding habitat for the dazzling Prothonotary Warbler. Herons and Egrets can regularly be seen wading the shallow waters. In September the masses of migrating raptors including Broad-wings, Falcons and Eagles as well as Monarch butterflies and dragonflies can be observed from the Hawk Tower, one of the most exciting birding locations in the county. The Festival of Hawks is a highlight on the birders calendar. Note: Holiday Beach Conservation Area has been dedicated by Bird Studies Canada as an Important Bird Area (IBA) of global significance. - Kopegaron Woods Conservation Area
Provides excellent woodland birding during the migration period. Colourful warblers at this site can often rival the colourful blanket of spring wildflowers. - Maidstone Conservation Area
With boardwalk and trails through the woodland and along the banks of the Puce River, Maidstone Conservation Area provides a pleasant natural habitat location to enjoy bird watching. - Ruscom Shores Conservation Area
A small marsh situated on the south shore of Lake St. Clair between Belle River and Stoney Point that attracts shore/marsh birds and waterfowl during migration and breeding season. - Stone Road Alvar Conservation Area
This Conservation Area protects an incredible diversity of flora and fauna and is a rarity in this region and also beyond. Well worth the enjoyable trip to Pelee Island for any birder, with lots to discover including the Carolinian bird species such as the yellow-breasted chat and the blue-gray gnatcatcher like the property's dense thickets. - Tremblay Beach Conservation Area
A viewing tower provides an excellent vantage point to observe the varied bird species that thrive in this shoreline marsh area. - Petite Côte Conservation Area
With a new viewing tower constructed in 2007, this marsh and riparian area is an outstanding location to observe birding activity. - Amherstburg-Essex Greenway
From pretty Cardinals and American Robins to Warblers and feathered visitors, the Greenway can provide surprising enjoyment for the bird watcher.
Tips
- Bring sunscreen, mosquito repellent, water, binoculars and camera.
- You may also want to take a bird identification reference book, a notebook and a pen.
- To see the most diverse array of birds, generally arrive earlier in the morning.
