Birding Tours

Explore Pelee is a dedicated ecotourism company specializing in birdwatching and wildlife tours on Pelee Island. Guided by passionate and experienced professional tour leaders. Pelee Island is a significant stopover site for many species of interest and Fish Point Nature Reserve at the southern tip of the island, is an ideal location to birdwatch. While our quest is first and foremost to deliver the ultimate birding experience, our tours are also educational, fun and excellent value for money!

Dean Ware a local guide has been leading tours for 20 years in the Pelee Island and Point Pelee Birding Areas.Living on the island Ware perfected his field birding skills while finding all the hotspots untold to the regular visitor allowing him to hold a high count on his “Pelee list”. Dean is new to the Explore Pelee team this season!

Other than touring, Ware curently sits on the Prothonotary Warbler Recovery Team and for the last thirteen years has been monitoring these endangered birds in the area.

Birding Tours: $300/full day (7am-4pm). Between 2-6 people.

Groups meet at West Dock, must pre-book in advance.

Rob Tymstra is a keen birder who roams the planet in search of birds. He’s spotted over 5100 species in 60 countries, but Pelee Island remains one of his favorite birding spots and he wouldn’t dream of missing the spring migration there. Rob has a Bachelor of Environmental Studies degree from the University of Waterloo and is a Fellow of the Explorers Club. He’s seen more species of birds on Pelee Island than anyone and knows all of the secret bird spots. Rob enjoys sharing his knowledge and especially loves to see the thrill new birders get upon finding birds they’ve never spotted before.

Pelee Island is one of the world’s finest areas to bird, especially in May when myriads of birds stop on their way north to their nesting grounds. Lighthouse Point and Fish Point Provincial Nature Reserves are two of the best birding areas, but Rob knows of several other good spots where elusive birds may be hiding. If you’re lucky, you might witness a spring reverse migration, a mysterious phenomenon where birds temporarily fly south instead of north. On a good day with a bit of luck and hard work, it’s not tough to spot over 100 species of birds, including several colourful warblers and tanagers, as well as orioles, grosbeaks, and hopefully some rarer species.

Renowned birder Rob Tymstra leads our Birding Tours. $250/half day (7am – 11am). Groups meet at West Dock, must pre-book in advance.