Our History

Image: Long-tailed Ducks by Ashley Jensen

The Observatory is situated on Federal land and in a designated National Wildlife Area (NWA). The Prince Edward Point NWA is managed by the Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS).

The Kingston Field Naturalists (KFN) first recognized this area as an important staging area for migratory birds in the 1960s. KFN started a banding program here in 1975 and until its closure in 1983, banded 64,470 birds of 160 species. Later, Drs. Fred Cooke and Charles Francis, both of Queen’s University at Kingston, conducted banding operations focusing on migratory songbirds.

The Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area came into being in the late 1970s when the CWS and KFN cooperated to acquire 560 ha near the tip of Long Point in Prince Edward County.  Brian Joyce and Eric Machell founded PEPtBO in 1995, thanks to funding from the James L. Baillie Fund, and through cooperation with CWS.  Preliminary banding and migration monitoring began that spring.  Since then, PEPtBO has become one of the most successful permanent banding stations in Canada.

Greater Scaup by Paul Jones

    • PEPtBO is founded working with CWS in providing space for the Bander-in-Charge and volunteers at the Fritz house

    • Van Cott cottage is used as the banding lab

    • PEPtBO establishes a Board of Directors 

    • This year marked the first time PEPtBO reached out to the local community for volunteer support. In response to an ad placed in the April paper, 50 volunteers stepped forward, leading to the creation of a volunteer protocol and scheduling system.

    • Partnerships with Ontario universities and colleges were established to involve students in supporting spring activities.

    • Birdlife International and the Canadian Nature Federation (now Nature Canada) designate the Prince Edward County South Shore a Globally Important Bird Area based on two factors: 1) the numbers of three species of waterfowl around the Point each exceeded 1% of the world’s population for each species (i.e., Long-tailed Duck, Greater Scaup, White-winged Scoter), and 2) the huge numbers of migratory birds that pass through the area on route to their breeding sites in the Boreal Forest from their wintering areas in the southern USA, Mexico, and Central and South America.

    • PEPtBO is incorporated in Ontario, and receives charitable status as a scientific research station, largely due to the efforts of Myrna Woods.

    • Charitable status enables PEPtBO to receive donations and pursue funding to assist in covering the costs of the banding operations, developing educational and outreach programs, and maintaining the facilities.

    • PEPtBO becomes a full member of the Canadian Migration Monitoring Network (CMMN). 

    • Pilot program for the Northern Saw-whet Owl banding begins.

    • The receipt of an Ontario Trillium Foundation Grant is a significant turning point as it allows PEPtBO to hire a Project Manager, Resource Developer, and Bander-in-Charge (BIC). These resources allow PEPtBO to expand our migration monitoring protocols to include a fall banding program of songbirds, raptors and owls, specifically the Northern Saw-whet Owl. 

    • The Project Manager was tasked with developing outdoor education programs for local schools and overseeing the renovation of the Van Cott cottage to serve as a seasonal residence for the BIC and volunteers.

    • The Resource Developer drafted proposals and organized fundraising events, including the Fall Bird Ball and performances by local musical artists at the Milford church.

    • Long-term renewable lease agreement is established with CWS.

    • Formal protocol for Northern Saw-whet Owl banding is adopted. 

    • Metcalf Foundation donates $5000 to convert the old storage shed into the new banding lab, allowing the BIC to move out of Van Cott Cottage.

    • Start of Bobolink banding.

    • Construction of the new built-for-purpose banding lab.

    • PEPtBO increasingly has the capacity to train and mentor younger and/or less experienced bird banders from all over the world.

    • PEPtBO is one of the busiest and most productive stations within the Canadian Migration Monitoring Network.

    • The receipt of an Ontario Trillium Foundation Grant is a significant turning point as it allows us to hire a full-time Station Manager and Bander-in-Charge (BIC) and expand our migration monitoring protocols to include a fall banding program of songbirds, raptors and owls, specifically the Northern Saw-whet Owl. 

    • Long-term renewable lease agreement is established with CWS.

    • 2021: Addition of the sparrow nets in an effort to study habitat change and potentially influence habitat management in collaboration with CWS.

    • 2021: The MAPS program is launched, establishing four MAPS stations across Prince Edward County.

    • 2023: A new MAPS station is added at Soup Harbour, a newly identified significant habitat supported by Friends of South Shore (FOSS).

    • 2024: PEPtBO receives a generous $100,000 donation from Anne and Karl Snider, to be directed towards organizational sustainability initiatives.

    • 2025: PEPtBO celebrates 30 years since our inception.

KEY DATES