Eagle-eyed birders to get special access to Fort St. Joseph

To mark World Migratory Bird Day, the Kensington Conservancy is collaborating with Parks Canada again this year to provide special access to Fort St. Joseph National Historic Site — allowing birders to experience the wonders of spring migration.

The site will be open to vehicular traffic from 6 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 11.

Fort St. Joseph, which is also home to the St. Joseph Island Migratory Bird Sanctuary, is well known as a top tier birding location within the Algoma District, the conservancy said in a release.

Well over 200 different bird species have been recorded here over the years.

During mid-May, a wide variety of migratory birds can be seen in a single day, including many ducks, raptors, warblers, and sparrows, the conservancy said.

The almost 1,000-hectare bird sanctuary has 4.3km of hiking trails to explore. The ruins of Fort St. Joseph also offer a vantage point out over the open water of Lake Huron.

This event is open to everyone, from experienced birders to those looking to try out the hobby for the first time.

If you don't have your own binoculars, you can rent a pair from Parks Canada for a small fee.

Carter Dorscht of the Kensington Conservancy will be present in the ruins area for the day to help point out birds.

During last year’s inaugural event, more than 40 participants collectively recorded 103 species of birds throughout the day, the conservancy said.

The highlights included an American White Pelican, 17 species of warbler, a Scarlet Tanager, and at least five Eurasian Tree Sparrows, which set a record for the most seen together at a single time in Canada, according to the conservancy.

"World Migratory Bird Day is an annual awareness-raising campaign highlighting the need for the conservation of migratory birds and their habitats," the conservancy said.

"It has a global outreach and is an effective tool to help raise global awareness of the threats faced by migratory birds, their ecological importance, and the need for international cooperation to conserve them."

Admission fees of $4.50 per adult and $4 per senior are applicable (youth age 17 and younger are free). Washrooms will be available within the visitors centre. Participants are encouraged to bring their own food and drinks, as none will be available for purchase.

Fort St. Joseph National Historic Site is at 185 Fort Road on St. Joseph Island. The site will be open for regular 2024 summer hours beginning on June 1.

For more information, contact the Kensington Conservancy at [email protected] or 705-782-2200.