Our workshop will be held at Point Pelee, Ontario, well-known for its high concentrations of migrating warblers. Numbers of fall migrants here can even surpass those of spring. We will see warblers in fresh fall plumage, where some species will look confusingly similar. In addition to plumage differences, we will also learn behaviors and vocalizations that help distinguish between species. While the emphasis of the workshop will be on warblers, we will also study other migrants we see such as Empidonax flycatchers and vireos, which also are challenging to identify.
Migrant shorebirds are also viewable in the local area.
We will spend our mornings in the field. In the afternoons and evenings we will view slides and discuss field identification. In addition, Jon and Kimball will give informal and interactive lectures on distribution, migration, and conservation. This tiny green oasis is internationally known for its spring and fall migration of birds and its stunning autumn monarch butterfly migration. Each spring and fall, thousands of birds pass through the area, giving Point Pelee an impressive checklist of more than 350 species.