THE PRINCE EDWARD POINT BIRD OBSERVATORY

The Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory is located in the Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area, at the southeastern tip of Prince Edward County. The first year of operation, after a period of banding inactivity at Prince Edward Point, was in 1995, and was established to continue the research started by the Kingston Field Naturalists during the 1970s and 1980s. In 1999, it became a full member of the Canadian Migration Monitoring Network, a product of Bird Studies Canada (BSC), although it retains its autonomy. It is incorporated in the Province of Ontario and is a registered charitable organization. Prince Edward Point is located within the Prince Edward County South Shore Important Bird Area

 The main objective of the PEPtBO is to monitor migratory bird populations in the spring through observations, a daily census, and banding practices. This information provides a look at population densities, longevity of those birds passing through, and the migratory routes of various species.

In 2002, the PEPtBO was awarded a $150,000 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation to further the work at the Observatory. David Okines, a full time bander has been hired, the cottage from which banding operations had been carried out has been renovated, solar power was put in place, a septic system was installed, and a well drilled. As a result of a donation of $5,000 from the George Cedric Metcalfe Foundation, a new banding laboratory was also built to replace the old existing pole shed, which will allow the cottage to be now used as a living quarters and display area.

The excitement at Prince Edward Point continues to accelerate at a frantic pace. Another grant of $7,000 from the Helen McCrea Peacock Foundation was used to construct a waterfowl observation/blind platform at the Point. The project was undertaken in 2002 by the "Natural Bridges" and "Real Life" classes from the Prince Edward Collegiate Institute of Picton. This crew also cleared some of the scrub brush that was encroaching on the nearby savannah, and threatening to turn this important habitat into a forest.