Birding at Point Pelee

A birder's history of one of Canada's most famous birding spots
Birding at Point Pelee traces Point Pelee's story from the 1870s, to the national park's establishment in 1918, to present day, when as many as 50,000 birders visit the park in May during spring migration. The book portrays the backdrop against which the park was evolving, the scientific discoveries and changes in ornithological methods through the decades -- early specimen-collecting, bird banding, the development of binoculars and telescopes, the growth of nature photography, the shift from birding as science to birding as hobby -- as well as philosophical shifts and debates about amateur versus professional credentials, and the balance to strike between conservation and recreation. Thoroughly researched and lively, the story takes readers from the earliest days, when the birders were few but fervent, to today's international tourism phenomenon.