World Migratory Bird Day at Fort St. Joseph
Central Algoma Land Trust
News Release
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In celebration of World Migratory Bird Day this year, Central Algoma Land Trust is proud to partner with Parks Canada to provide special access to Fort St. Joseph National Historic Site so that birders can experience the wonders of spring bird migration.
The site will be open from 6:00am until 2:00pm on Saturday May 9, 2026.
Fort St. Joseph, which is also home to the St. Joseph Island Migratory Bird Sanctuary, is well known as a top tier birding location within the Algoma District. Well over 200 different bird species have been recorded here over the years, including 181 throughout 2025.
During mid-May, a wide variety of migratory birds can be seen in a single day, including many ducks, raptors, warblers, and sparrows. The almost 1000 hectare bird sanctuary has 4.3km worth of hiking trails that can be explored and the ruins of Fort St. Joseph offer a great vantage point out over the open water of Lake Huron.
This event is open to everyone, from experienced birders to those looking to try out the hobby for the first time. If you don't have your own pair of binoculars, you can rent a pair from Parks Canada for a small fee. Carter Dorscht of the Central Algoma Land Trust will be present in the ruins area for the day to help point out birds.
During last year’s third annual event, nearly 100 participants collectively recorded 122 different species of birds throughout the day. The highlights included an Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Barred Owls, Trumpeter Swans, a Rough-legged Hawk, and many warbler species.
World Migratory Bird Day is an annual awareness-raising campaign highlighting the need for the conservation of migratory birds and their habitats. It has a global outreach and is an effective tool to help raise global awareness of the threats faced by migratory birds, their ecological importance, and the need for international cooperation to conserve them.
Admission fees of $5.00 per adult and $4.50 per senior are applicable (youth age 17 and younger are free). Washrooms will be available within the visitor centre, as well as water for participants to fill personal water bottles. Participants are encouraged to bring their own food and drinks to ensure they have everything they need to enjoy an amazing day of birding as the nearest food service is roughly 30 km away.
Fort St. Joseph National Historic Site is located at 185 Fort Road on St. Joseph Island. The site will be open for regular summer hours beginning on June 3, 2026.
For more information, please contact the Central Algoma Land Trust at info@calt.ca or 705-782-2200.
The Central Algoma Land Trust depends on the generous support of our local community to carry out our work. Please consider making a donation to help advance conservation efforts across the Central Algoma region. Your contribution will help protect the natural spaces and wildlife that make this area so special.
