Swirling, hovering over the beach, a cloud forms — but it’s not white. It’s orange, and it’s fluttering.
In early autumn, thousands of Monarch butterflies migrate over Point Pelee, the southernmost spot on Canada’s mainland, on their way to their winter home in Mexico. There, the butterflies feast on milkweed, their only source of food. Such is the Monarchs’ popularity that Point Pelee has a dedicated “butterfly hotline,” where visitors can call for information.
A national park since 1918, Point Pelee is one of Canada’s smallest and most unusual. Located 30 miles from Windsor in Leamington, Ontario, the park’s topography is more in keeping with that of South Carolina, with dense marshes and temperate climes. In addition to its spot on the butterfly migratory route, Point Pelee is also considered one of the best spots in North America for bird watching, attracting hundreds of species that appear solely on this tiny peninsula jutting into Lake Erie.
Most of the park is marshland and the isolation provides a placid backdrop for wildlife. Best seen by kayak, the marshes can also be toured in guided, 10-person canoes. Golden eagles, snowy-breasted owls and peregrine falcons can be spotted. Other creatures follow the Monarchs’ path, too, including swarms of dragonflies, also en route to warmer weather.
Away from the birds, a ribbon of sandy beach beckons. There are always plenty of stones for skipping, and rolling waves for body surfing. Soon, though, the sky turns dark and it’s not a storm that’s rolling in. Above us are scores of black, flapping wings. Uh-oh — it turns out bats migrate over Point Pelee, too.