2024 Leamington Convention Description & Trips
Convention – September 27 – 29, 2024
Join OFO members and guests for three days of birding, celebration and enjoyment in Leamington Ontario and surrounding birding destinations.
At this time of year you can expect to see migrating songbirds, waterfowl, shorebirds, and abundant raptors. Many people consider September to be the best birding month of all!
Evening activities include Friday night’s Birds and Beers — a casual dinner followed by a short presentation of Essex Field Naturalist Club, Certificates of Appreciation and the famous Bird Quiz hosted by Sarah Rupert!
Join us on Saturday evening for the Silent Auction followed by a sit-down Banquet and the Annual Meeting. Celebrate out 2024 Distinguished Ornithologist, Mark Peck! Mark follows in the footsteps of many outstanding recipients of this award.
We are also very pleased to announce our Keynote Speakers from Creators Garden, Joseph Pitawanakwat, Andres Jimenz Monge and Junaid Shahzad Khan. They will be sharing their knowledge on the work they’ve done cataloguing the Anishinaabe traditional names of birds. Please visit their website for further information: Creator’s Garden (creatorsgardenmarket.ca)
Both evening events take place at the Portuguese Club, located at 217 Talbot St. West in Leamington, Ontario. The club has ample parking and is wheelchair accessible. Evening events are preceded by vendor exhibits, and a chance to vie for one of the fabulous door prizes. A cash bar will be available.
Want to Register? – Click Here
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Field Trip Details – Field Trip Brochure
Friday September 27th All Day
St Clair NWR and Vicinity. Leader: Pete Read. Meet 9:00 am at St Clair NWR headquarters at #5633 Balmoral Line off Town Line Road. Stay right at Balmoral Line to reach parking area.
Ojibway Nature Centre and Essex Sewage Lagoons. Leader: Paul Pratt. Meet 9:00 am at main parking lot at Ojibway Centre in Windsor.
Big Creek and Holiday Beach Conservation Area. Leader: Alessandra Wilcox/Kiah Jasper. Meet 9:00 am at Holiday Beach Conservation Area main gate.
Wheatley area and Kopegaron Woods. Leaders: Jeremy Hatt. Meet 9:00 am at parking area for Kopegaron Woods, off #34, west of Wheatley.
Friday September 27th Morning Only
Birding at the Tip of Point Pelee National Park. Leader: Jeff Skevington, Stewart MacDonald. Meet 7:00 am at Point Pelee National Park Visitor’s Centre Tram.
West Beach Trail. Leader: Geordie Ray/Colleen Reilly. Meet 8:00 am at Point Pelee National Park Visitor Centre.
Birding Point Pelee National Park Trails. Leader Jeremy Bensette. Meet at Point Pelee Marsh Boardwalk at 8:30 am. Birding locations with PPNP dependent on current weather and birding conditions.
Friday September 27th Afternoon Only
Birding Point Pelee National Park Tilden’s Woods. Leader: Geordie Ray/Colleen Reilly. Meet 1:30 pm at Point Pelee National Park Visitor Centre,
Birding Onion Fields and Hillman Marsh. Leader: Jeff Skevington, Gis Segler. Meet 1:30 pm at Roma Club parking area in Leamington.
Saturday September 28th All Day
Harrow Sewage Lagoons to Amherst Point on the Detroit River. Leader: Gis Segler. Meet 8:30 am at entrance to Harrow Sewage Lagoons, Concession Road 3, just north of Harrow.
Kayak/canoe trip on Pelee Marsh. Leaders: Cam Chevalier. Meet 8:30 am at Marsh Boardwalk parking area in Point Pelee National Park. Bring own canoe/kayak or rent at the Marsh Rental Centre. Maximum 15 boats. Separate registration on OFO website is required.
Point Pelee National Park Tip and Trails. Leaders: Pete Read, Stewart MacDonald. Meet 7:00 am at Point Pelee National Park Visitor’s Centre for first tram.
Kopegaron Woods, Wheatley area, Onion Fields, Hillman Marsh. Leader: Jeremy Bensette. Meet 8:30 am at Hillman Marsh CA parking lot (1826 Mersea Rd 2).
Saturday September 28th Morning Only
Point Pelee & Area. Leaders: Mike Burrell & Co-Leader. Meet 7:30 am at Point Pelee National Park Visitor’s Centre.
Point Pelee National Park Trails. Leaders: Sarah Lamond. Meet 8:00 am at Point Pelee National Park’s Visitor’s Centre.
Wheatley Area. Leader: Paul Pratt. Meet 9:00 am at Wheatley Provincial Park, 21116 Klondyke Rd., S., Wheatley, ON
Sunday, September 29th All Day
Rondeau Provincial Park and Blenheim Lagoons. Leaders: Alessandra Wilcox/Kiah Jasper; Stewart MacDonald. Meet 8:30 am at Rondeau Park gates.
Erieau Area. Leaders: Leaders: Geordie Ray/Colleen Reilly. Meet at Erieau Harbour at 8.30 am.
Point Pelee National Park Tip & Trails. Leader: Jeremy Bensette. Meet at 8:30 am at Point Pelee National Park Visitor’s Centre for tram.
Point Pelee National Park Trails. Leader: Kate Derbyshire. Meet at 8:00 am at Point Pelee National Park Visitor’s Centre.
Sunday, September 29th Morning Only
Onion Fields, Hillman Marsh, Wheatley. Leader: Pete Read. Meet 7:30 am at Roma Club parking lot. End time flexible based on location activity.
Young Birders
Saturday September 28th All Day
Point Pelee and area. Leader: Mike Burrell et al. Meet 7:30 am at Park Point Pelee National Park Visitor’s Centre. Day ends at 3:00 pm.
Sunday September 29th Morning Only
Birding Point Pelee Tip and Trails. Leader: Mike Burrell et al. Meet 7:30 am at Tip. Day ends at 12:00 pm.
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Questions? Email convention@ofo.ca
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The OFO Convention is generously sponsored by
