The Pelee Island Spring Song Race officially began at noon today!

Over 140 people have registered and 7 teams of birders have fanned out across the island in a 24-hour marathon birdwatching event.

The island is a globally important bird area and a critical staging area for migratory birds. Over 300 species have been recorded on the island, including some of Canada’s rarest breeding species — Prothonatory Warblers, Acadian Flycatcher and Yellow-breasted Chats.

Celebratory events like this are helping to raise the profile of birds and efforts to conserve their habitats across Canada and throughout North America. This year, I have been asked to be the event’s celebrity birder — and I’ve joined up with literary icons and renowned birders Graeme Gibson, Margaret Atwood, and co-authors of Breakfast at the Exit Cafe Wade Grady and Merilyn Simonds to form Team Cuckoo!

We aim to spot 100 species over the next 24 hours. The Spring Song Race is held each year during the height of migration season by the Pelee Island Bird Observatory, which has been a strong supporter of bird monitoring on the island and the cause of nature conservation.

Wish us luck — and happy birding.