HBMO is headquartered at the Holiday Beach Conservation Area (HBCA) in the Big Creek Marsh watershed. This internationally recognized Important Bird Area, IBA, is owned and operated by Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA). It is strategically located at the extreme southwestern tip of southern Ontario. As raptors migrate south for the winter, they can ease their otherwise energy costly flight by avoiding long stretches of flight over open water like the Great Lakes. The Detroit River crossing is a short cut on the land mass between lakes Huron, Erie, and Ontario which helps to funnel migrating raptors over HBCA, making it an excellent place to observe migrating raptors. Migrants can be observed flying right overhead, slightly North of Big Creek Marsh, or following Lake Erie’s shoreline in a westerly direction.

The Holiday Beach Migration Observatory is located within Holiday Beach Conservation Area, along the Lake Erie shoreline in Amherstburg, Ontario at 6952 County Road 50, 1.1 miles south of the junction Highway 20 (old 18) and Essex Road 50, Town of Amherstburg. The HBMO headquarters building is located at the southeastern corner of the day-use area.

The Holiday Beach Migration Observatory (HBMO), founded in 1986, promotes the study and protection of migrating birds. Activities focus primarily on fall migration of raptors and other species. Holiday Beach Conservation Area was formerly a Provincial Park, but is now administered by the Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA). It is strategically located at the extreme SW tip of ON. The park is on the E end of a large freshwater estuary known as Big Creek. This site is on the N shore of Lake Erie near the Detroit River. In 1988, HBMO persuaded Detroit Edison to donate a 12m (40 ft) Hawk Tower which is now at the site. Holiday Beach Migration Observatory (HBMO) is a non-profit organization with Canadian Registered Charity number 849770854RR0001. HBMO is primarily dedicated to the study and long-term monitoring of migratory bird populations during the spring and fall seasons that pass through portions of Essex County, Ontario, Canada. HBMO is headquartered at the Holiday Beach Conservation Area, which is operated by Essex Region Conservation Authority and is within the Big Creek Marsh watershed that is an internationally recognized Important Bird Area. HBMO strives to contribute to the greater understanding of migration and conservation of birds, wildlife, and insects and their habitats through research and education programs.

All data displayed on this site are preliminary and have not yet undergone quality control. Written permission is required to use the data.