Ultimate Guide to Festival of Flight at Rondeau Provincial Park
I’ve always loved birds and nature in general, and over the last few years I’ve been doing a lot of intentional birding trips in Ontario and elsewhere in Canada. But when I attended the Festival of Flight at Rondeau Provincial Park for the first time, I knew I had to sing it’s praises from the treetops like the robins in my neighbourhood.
While I’ve been to a couple of bird festivals, this one wins out as my favourite! I was blown away by the sheer number of different bird species I saw in one day – 12 hours of birding to be exact. But that’s just one of the many reasons why I think you should plan to attend.
In this guide I’m breaking down everything you need to know about Rondeau’s Festival of Flight, including what you need to know about the park and festival, why you absolutely should attend, and some tips for a successful festival visit.
About Rondeau Provincial Park
Many might not know, but Rondeau is the second oldest provincial park after Algonquin, established in 1894. The park takes up much of a peninsula in Lake Erie and is located in Chatham-Kent, in southwestern Ontario.
Rondeau Provincial Park offers the perfect nature-focused getaway in Ontario. It’s perfect for those in living in the province as well as travellers from the United Stations, like Michigan, as Rondeau is only a 1.5-hour drive from Detroit.
While the park is one of the best parks in Ontario for bird watching, with over 330 species recorded, there are plenty of other things to do in the park.
Highlights include:
- 7 hiking trails
- sandy beaches
- canoeing
- windsurfing
Rondeau’s Festival of Flight
One of the biggest highlights of Rondeau is their incredible Festival of Flight. It’s put on by the Friends of Rondeau, a non-profit, that helps with preservation, education and projects in the park. The festival takes place every May, around the first two weeks of the month.
The festival is timed perfectly for peak spring migration in Ontario, which is the first 3 weeks of May. And thanks to its location, that overlaps two different flyways, the Mississippi and Atlantic flyways, thousands of birds use the park as a stop-over during their migration.
As one of the premiere birding destinations in Canada, it attracts visitors from across the province, country and world. With over 330 species recorded, around 130 of those breeding in the park, you are in store for some incredible bird watching.
Species spotted in the park are varied and include the Townsend’s Solitaire, Painted Bunting and Blue Grosbeak. But you can spot plenty of others like Tundra Swans, thousands of ducks, thrushes and more. The varied species is all thanks to its location, which is perfect for birds stopping to rest and eat on their migration north, as well as the diverse ecosystems in the park that range from old growth Carolinian forest to coastal wetland.
Reasons to Attend Festival of Flight
Warblers
The top reason I think you should attend the Festival of Flight – Warblers! I was blown away by the sheer number of warbler species throughout the park. And as someone who’s favourite birds are warblers, this made it truly special for me.
Obliviously, the top reason to go is to see birds. But warblers are unique as they are small and constantly moving, so getting an eye on them can be tricky but is incredibly rewarding. And photographing them always leaves me feeling like I won a prize!
As one of the best birding hot spots in Ontario, Rondeau is special because it’s home to the endangered Prothonotary Warbler. Only found in a few places across the country, it also nests in the park.
During my visit, I was able to observe two different ones darting around in the trees overhead. But the fact that I was able to snap a photo of one of these lifers blew my mind. Even if it’s not a sharp photo of one, I’ll take it as a win!
Guided Hikes
During the festival they run 2 guided hikes a day. One in the morning at 7:30 am and one in the afternoon or evening (depending on the day) which is either at 1 or 7 pm.
Guided hikes are led by an experienced birder and run between 1.5 – 2 hours. Joining one is a great way to learn more about the different species in the park and where to find them. Plus, these experts are keen with spotting them, so they can help you see them.
It doesn’t matter if you’re an avid birder or a beginner, these guided hikes are suited to all levels. If you’re just starting out birding, you’ll learn where to look for certain species and which song goes with which bird. Plus, more people mean more eyes, which means you’ll spot more birds!
We had naturalist Kevin Gevaert as our guide. His impeccable ear for birding really impressed me. He was also very helpful to those needing help locating a bird and answered all of our questions about specific areas of the park to visit for different species we hoped to see.
There is a fee for the guided hike, but it’s worth it. And they keep group sizes to a manageable size, so you won’t get lost in the crowd
Birder’s Breakfast
Birders need fuel to keep their energy going for a long day of hiking. The Friends of Rondeau have that in mind and offer a Birder’s Breakfast. Typically, from 7:00 am to 2:00 pm they have quick bites and refreshments available by donation in the Visitor Centre.
You can grab a muffin, top up your coffee, and wait for your guided hike to start. Or pop in before you hit the trails on your own.
A 2 Week Festival
Sometimes festivals are only one day or over a weekend. The short time frame makes it hard to attend if you have work. However, Rondeau’s Festival of Flight takes place over two full weeks.
With the extended period, three weekends and two full weeks, it’s easier to make time to fit a visit to the festival into your schedule.
Falls on Global Big Day
A fun time to attend the Festival of Flight is during Global Big Day! This annual event is about seeing how many bird species you can see in 24 hours.
Taking place in May (in 2027 it will be on May 9th) it’s timed perfectly to coincide with the peak of spring migration in the Northern Hemisphere and is right in the middle of the festival. The buzz you’ll experience if this is the day you attend the festival will be astounding.
And it’s interesting to note that the Global Big Day is growing in popularity (as is birding in general). In 2024, 1.3 million birders participated and observed more than 7,725 bird species. But in 2026, the results set a world record! With 2.1 million people participating, and a record breaking more than 8,000 bird species recorded in one day!
Easy to Escape the Crowds
I’m always trying to help travellers go beyond the popular places. And Rondeau’s Festival of Flight is a gem when it comes to avoiding the crowds.
One of the most popular birding festivals in Ontario, and parks to visit in the spring, takes place at Point Pelee National Park. And for good reason! It’s an incredible park where you can spot an array of species.
But Rondeau is a great alternative to Point Pelee. Rondeau is double the size of Point Pelee, and it gets around half the visitors. With its large size and fewer crowds, you can easily find peace and quiet to bird along the numerous trails.
Even during my weekend visit, I was shocked at how often I found that my friend and I had the trails all to ourselves.
Spring Flowers
Along with the migration, the festival is a prime time to soak in the stunning spring flowers in the park. Across the park you’ll find an array of flowers blooming along the trails.
One noteworthy one that I loved spotting were the trilliums along the Spicebush Trail. In addition to trilliums, I saw blue phlox and poet’s narcissus too!
So, don’t forget to look down along the trails as well as up in the trees!
It’s Memorable
Lastly, but most importantly, one of the best reasons to attend the festival is that it will undoubtably be memorable!
Whether you’re visiting with friends or family, you’ll be creating core memories for years to come. There’s a magic to this festival and I felt it in the air and from the others in the park. I’m not sure if it’s the buzz of excitement or the anticipation of seeing a species you’ve always wanted to see, but the energy is palpable.
From the wow moments I shared with my friend as we spotted birds we only dreamed of seeing with our own eyes, to the little girl seeing the warblers dance in the trees so close she could touch them, Rondeau’s Festival of Flight is truly memorable.
Tips for Attending Festival of Flight
Start Early
That old proverb, “the early bird gets the worm,” is true in the birding world. Starting your mornings early, soon after the dawn, leads to more success in seeing active birds. However, for late risers, the combination of spring migration and the right location means you’ll win out all morning and afternoon.
Stay Nearby
Rondeau Provincial Park has a large campground that you can stay at to maximize your birding time. Or you can stay nearby, like the Erie-O Motel, where I stayed, which is a short 20-minute drive from the park.
Visit the Visitor Centre
I always recommend visiting the Visitor Centre in any park you go to. But this is a must during the Festival of Flight, as you can check the boards to see what birds were seen along which trail, for a solid chance to see them during your visit. Especially if there are key bird species, lifers as we call them, that you really want to see.
Book a Guided Hike
I mentioned the guided hikes as a big reason to attend, but I want to reiterate how valuable they are. If you’re a beginner birder, they are key to help you spot birds with the help of a pro, and learn more about where to find birds when you’re hiking on your own.
Pack a Picnic
Don’t forget to eat! I’m not the best with remembering to eat first thing in the morning, but you’ll want to keep your energy up for hiking. So, pack a picnic the night before to enjoy at one of the many picnic tables in the park. Or, you can visit the snack bar and restaurant in the park. You’ll find everything from hotdogs and French fries to ice cream.
Best Trails for Birding
It depends on what you want to see, but the best trail for birding is the Tulip Tree Trail. You’ll see everything from warblers to red-headed woodpeckers. To see the most warblers, take a wander along the Warbler Way. Another key birding trail is the Spicebush Trail and it was the quietest in terms of other people
So, if you’re looking for a unique spring experience or one of the best places to bird during the spring migration, I highly recommend attending the Festival of Flight. It has so much to offer birders and nature lovers alike, and is in one of the best parks in the province.
Disclaimer: This post is in partnership with Chatham-Kent tourism but as always, all opinions are my own.
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