Dear Ontbirders: The following message has been approved by the list moderator (Mark Cranford).
Just a brief update regarding the Hillman Marsh Conservation Area Shorebird habitat. The habitat is flooded again this spring and should continue to provide outstanding shorebirding opportunities to complement your visit to Point Pelee National Park. Its so dry this spring here that I would guess the habitat will be better than ever. Over thirty species of shorebirds have been recorded here since the habitat opened up. It is really critical that birders continue to support this project through day use fees and annual permits. The day fee per vehicle is $6, while an annual permit is $45. This allows you entrance to all conservation areas in the Essex region that charge a day use fee (for either a day or year respectively). The most notable of these outside of Hillman Marsh is Holiday Beach Conservation Area, a well known spring and fall birding site. Please keep in mind that these fees help to cover the cost of pumping water into the cell and other annual maintenance costs that allow us to have a shorebird habitat. The actual capital costs of the project all came from DU, other sources and a generous private citizen (John Omstead) who made a subtantial donation. I encourage birders to purchase annual permits from either the Nature Nook at Point Pelee National Park or Pelee Wings Nature Store just south of Sturgeon Creek on Pelee Drive. When you get your permit be sure they punch out the date it expires NOT the date purchased. If you have any questions about the permits, or conservation areas, please call Danielle Breault at ERCA (519) 776-5209. Lastly please remember to record (or call in) all your notable observations at the Visitor Centre at Point Pelee National Park, and also to ONTBIRDS. Good luck with your spring shorebirding! Cheers, Tom Tom Hince Wild Rose Guest House RR1, 21298 Harbour Road, Wheatley, ON N0P 2P0 Canada [minutes from Point Pelee National Park] (519) 825-9070 (ph) (519) 825-9169 (fax) E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web: http://www.netcore.ca/~peleetom
