Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area

At the southeastern tip of Prince Edward County, Ontario, the Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area protects 560 hectares of shoreline that has drawn migrating birds - and birdwatchers - for decades.

About Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area

The wildlife area was established in 1978, and the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory that operates within it was founded in 1995 to monitor bird migration across the point, continuing work the Kingston Field Naturalists had carried out there in the 1970s and 1980s. It's recognised as a Globally Important Birding Area and an International Monarch Butterfly Reserve.

History

Bird migration monitoring at the point traces back to the Kingston Field Naturalists' fieldwork in the 1970s and 80s, before the observatory formalised the effort in 1995 with daily banding and census work.

Bird migration & research

More than 300 bird species have been documented at the point, with notable single-day counts including over 10,000 tree swallows and more than 70,000 dark-eyed juncos moving through during migration. The habitat mixes grassland and scrubland with limestone cliffs, ponds, and rare plants such as Ontario aster and downy wood-mint.

Location & getting there

The wildlife area sits at Prince Edward Point, the southeastern tip of Prince Edward County, Ontario, jutting into Lake Ontario.

Visiting Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area

The site is managed as a national wildlife area; check Environment and Climate Change Canada's website for current access details before visiting, especially during banding season.

See your named star from here

Prince Edward Point isn't an astronomical observatory - its binoculars and nets are trained on migrating birds, not the night sky. But its remote shoreline setting, far from the light pollution of nearby cities, makes it a genuinely dark spot for naked-eye stargazing once the birdwatchers pack up. If you've named a star with Star Register, bring its coordinates and a star-finder app along on an evening visit. Browse the catalogue or name a star before you go.