Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory

Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory
Location of the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory
Location	Eastern Ontario
Nearest city	Picton, Ontario
Coordinates	43°57′N 76°54′W / 43.950°N 76.900°W / 43.950; -76.900
Area	560 hectares (Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area)
Established	1995 (observatory) 1978 (National Wildlife Area)

The Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory is a bird observatory located in the Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area, located on Prince Edward Point in the south-east corner of Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada.^[1] The National Wildlife Area was established in 1978 covering 560 hectares.^[2] The observatory was established in 1995 to monitor bird migrations across the point, continuing the work of the Kingston Field Naturalists who performed similar work in the 1970s and 1980s.^[3] The observatory was designated a Globally Important Birding Area in 1998 by the Canadian Nature Federation and Bird Studies Canada. It is also an International Monarch Butterfly Reserve.

The observatory's purpose is to observe the migratory bird populations. It does so through a combination of bird banding, daily censuses and observations.^[1]

Funding for these activities comes from a variety of sources. In 2002, the Ontario Trillium Foundation awarded the observatory $150,000 to renovate the research station, stabilize the bird banding operations and develop outreach activities.^[4] Smaller grants have included a $5,000 donation from the George Cedric Metcalfe Foundation for a modern bird banding facility and a $7,000 grant from the Helen McCrea Peacock Foundation to construct blinds and observation platforms.

Prince Edward Point extends about 10 kilometers into Lake Ontario. Off the edges of the point there are both shoals and deeper waters. The point itself is limestone bedrock with a thin covering of unconsolidated Farmington loam topsoil.^[5][6]

The point features an interior with primarily grassland and scrubland.^[7] Also present are small amounts of wooded swamps, shrub-lined ponds, mixed forests and alvars. Both sandy and rocky shores are found along the south beaches of the point, while the north beaches are prominent limestone cliffs. Some of the key species in the ecosystem of the point include fringed gentian, viper's bugloss, butterfly weed, jewelweed, black-eyed susan and small yellow lady's slipper. Rare vascular plants found on Prince Edward Point include Ontario aster, downy wood mint and clammyweed.

Prince Edward Point is a concentration point of bird migrations over the Great Lakes. Over 300 species of birds have been recorded at Prince Edward Point.^[2] Most of these birds are recorded in migration, however 74 species of bird have been recorded nesting on the point.^[3]

The site experiences heavy bird migration. Single-day totals of greater scaup, long-tailed duck, and white-winged scoters have exceeded 1% of their total North American populations. Single-day totals of common birds exceed 10,000 individuals for species like tree swallows, long-tailed ducks, and yellow-rumped warblers. The single-day count of dark-eyed juncos has exceeded 70,000 birds.^[5]

This table contains the spring bird counts, averaged over 1995–1999. The priority of various species depends on how well their breeding grounds are covered by surveys such as the Breeding Bird Survey, with birds whose breeding grounds are well surveyed being of lesser priority. The Mean DET is the daily estimated total number of birds migrating across Prince Edward Point, and the Mean Band is the number of birds banded in the season. This table includes only species with at least ten individuals counted per season, across not less than five days.

Table of species

• Official website