Pelee Island, Canada Tours

Tucked away in the western part of Lake Erie is Canada’s southernmost point of inhabited land—Pelee Island. This hidden gem is roughly 4 by 8 miles in size. The island has an area of about 11,000 acres and is home to only 200 permanent residents. Pelee Island is located southeast of Detroit, Michigan and is just north of the U.S.-Canada border. This tour begins in Detroit, and from there we travel about 50 miles by van. We enter Canada at Windsor, and continue on to Leamington. From there, we take a large commercial ferry for 1 ½ hours (about 15 miles) to Pelee Island.

Pelee Island is a significant haven for migrant birds, and is designated as a globally Important Bird Area. The warm, shallow waters of Lake Erie foster a unique microclimate on this island. This factor results in a tremendous diversity of habitats on Pelee Island: deciduous forests, wetlands, sand dunes, and alvars. The vascular plant variety here is stunning. It is easy to understand why considerable numbers of warblers, vireos, orioles, flycatchers, grosbeaks, and other birds utilize the island for a stop-off point as they head north on their spring migration.

These tours focus on getting quality views of 25-30 different warbler species. We will see hundreds of these tiny jewels as they stop to “refuel” on Pelee Island. We expect to find such beauties as: Blackburnian, Cerulean, Cape May, Kentucky, Blackpoll, Golden-winged, Palm, Black-throated Green, Canada, Nashville, Bay-breasted, Hooded, Prothonotary, Blue-winged, Mourning, Chestnut-sided, Black-throated Blue, and Northern Parula. There is also a good possibility of finding a rarity such as Connecticut or Kirtland’s Warbler.

We should see about 125 bird species on this tour. In addition to the many warblers, we should also find Great Black-backed Gull, Bald Eagle, Black-billed Cuckoo, Red-headed Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Least Flycatcher, Great Crested Flycatcher, Yellow-throated Vireo, Blue-headed Vireo, Carolina Wren, Wood Thrush, Veery, Scarlet Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, Baltimore Oriole, and Orchard Oriole.

Additionally, the Pelee Island Bird Observatory maintains a bird-banding station on the island. It will be possible for us to observe their banding activities, during our visit.

Our tour accommodations on Pelee Island are at the Wavecrest B&B. This delightful facility features three bedrooms, with each containing a private bathroom. We’ll spend six consecutive nights here. Our meals are at quaint restaurants and bakeries on the island. This tour spends a minimum amount of time in driving, which allows us a maximum amount of time in the field.

Our days on this vibrant island will offer non-stop birding along the many beautiful walking trails, as we visit nature reserves at Lighthouse Point, Fish Point, and Stone Road Alvar. Join us for a week on Pelee Island and luxuriate in the simple natural beauty and non-commercial lifestyle that is found here!

Day 1: Plan to arrive in Detroit by 1:00 this afternoon. Night on Pelee Island at Wavecrest B&B.

Days 2-6: Destinations—Several locations on Pelee Island. Nights on Pelee Island at Wavecrest B&B.

Day 7:   The tour concludes at Noon in Detroit.