This email was approved by the Ontbirds coordinator. Birders, Those planning to come to Point Pelee this year should be aware of changes in the operation of the tram or transport from the Visitor Centre to the Tip. These changes are as follows: 1) There will only be one two-car tram operating every 20 minutes. The other transports were deemed unsafe and were taken off the road. This means there will be no second tram to handle overflows on the peak weekends in May as in the past,. For at least the first two weekends in May, it may be wise to plan on taking the tram 20 minutes before the time you are interested in. This way you will likely be in the queue for the tram time you want. According to Marian Stranak, Superintendent of Point Pelee National Park, the park is negotiating with a local bus company to provide transport in the unlikely event that the existing tram fails. 2) The last tram will leave the Visitor Centre at 5 pm. (The first one still will leave at 6 am until May 20, when it leaves at 10 am.) 3) The tram will no longer stop at the halfway point for people to embark or disembark. 4) Parks Canada HQ this year rejected Point Pelee's request for a new transport system, according to Ms. Stranak. She is hopeful and indicated that the park is committed to trying to implement a new system. A Friends of Point Pelee representative indicated to me recently that the organization is considering the possibility of raising funds for a new tram. Ms. Stranak indicated that park staff will be looking closely at user comments concerning the changes in the tram schedule, and assured me that the park would reconsider these changes if they adversely affected visitors' experience of the park, based on feedback received. Blessings, Mike Carlson Royal Oak, MI _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
