Jack Miner Migratory Bird Sanctuary

05/22/2026

From the very beginning, ambassador birds have played an important role at The Jack Miner Migratory Bird Sanctuary. These historic photographs offer a glimpse into the early days of our aviaries and breeding pens, where birds were carefully held, reared, and laid as part of Jack Miner’s pioneering conservation work.

But their purpose extended far beyond research and propagation. For generations, these birds also served as teachers--helping young visitors connect with wildlife in a direct and meaningful way. For close to a century, school children have arrived at the Sanctuary by the bus load to experience nature up close, often seeing migratory birds for the very first time.

That tradition continues today. Our ambassador birds remain an important part of how we educate, inspire, and foster appreciation for conservation in future generations.

Interested in learning more about our curriculum-based programs offered here at the Sanctuary and off-site? Visit our Field Trip and In-School Program pages:

https://jackminer.ca/field-trips/

https://jackminer.ca/in-school-programs/

05/20/2026

Behind Jack Miner’s worldwide conservation legacy stood his devoted wife, Laona.

On December 24, 1888, Jack married Laona Wigle, daughter of a prosperous Kingsville family. Their life together began in rather humble--and very “Jack Miner”--fashion. After spending their first winter with Laona’s family, the young couple set up housekeeping beneath the canvas walls of a large tent the following spring. Before long, they moved into the white clapboard home Jack built beside the clay pits of his brick and tile yard.

Through the decades that followed, Laona remained Jack’s constant companion and greatest supporter. Whether accompanying him on speaking tours that carried his conservation message around the world or helping manage the Sanctuary during his absence, Laona played an essential role in the success of Jack’s work and the legacy we continue to share today. 🤍

05/15/2026

Community engagement and outreach have made for a busy and rewarding spring at The Jack Miner Migratory Bird Sanctuary!

Over the past several weeks, we’ve had the opportunity to connect with communities across the region through conservation, tourism, education, and outdoor heritage events--from Honkers’ memorable appearance (and “capture and banding”!) at the Southern Footprints Mascot Run (April 26), to the Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island Staycation Expo (April 24–25), the Southwest Outdoor Club’s 2026 Big Buck Sportsmen’s Show (May 2), Festival of Birds presentations at Point Pelee National Park (May 5 & 11), an appearance on Punisher Waterfowl’s The Union podcast (May 7, Ep. 267), and attendance at the annual Wild Game Dinner hosted by The Gosfield North Sportsmen's Association (April 18).

In addition to these events, we also delivered on-site and off-site educational programs and presentations to more than 500 people this spring alone.

Thank you to everyone who has welcomed, supported, and engaged with us this season--we’re looking forward to an exciting summer ahead!

05/14/2026

Before the books, the articles, and the speeches… there were a handful of boys in a Sunday school class.

Many are surprised to learn that Jack Miner could not read or write until his late 30s. As a teacher, he would share stories and lessons from memory, carefully avoiding reading directly from the Bible in front of his students. But the boys noticed.

That rambunctious group of young Sunday school students — pictured here in 1910 — became teachers themselves. Patiently and persistently, they helped Jack learn to read and write, opening a door that would shape the rest of his life.

It came just in time.

As Jack’s voice for conservation began to spread across North America, the demand for his words grew rapidly. Newspapers sought his reflections. Correspondence arrived daily, at times 100 band recovery letters per day. Eventually, even an autobiography was demanded of the man who had once struggled to read a sentence himself.

Writing became both a duty and a burden. When the responsibility grew overwhelming, Jack would retreat deep into the woods of the Sanctuary to a tiny writing cabin hidden among the trees--a humble 10-by-6-foot refuge with little more than a cot, a potbelly stove, and a writing table. There, away from distraction, he would disappear for days at a time to think, reflect, and write on behalf of the birds and the conservation movement he helped inspire.

From an illiterate farmhand to one of Canada’s most influential voices for migratory birds, Jack’s story is a reminder that learning has no age limit--and that sometimes the greatest teachers arrive in the form of young children sitting in the front row of classroom.

05/13/2026

⛳️ Support Conservation Close to Home – Become a Bronze Bobwhite Sponsor!

There’s still time to support the 5th Annual Friends of Jack Miner Golf Tournament at Kingsville Golf & Country Club on Saturday, May 30, 2026.

🟤 Bronze Bobwhite Sponsorship – $200
For one more week, we are accepting Bronze Bobwhite Sponsors, with a final sponsorship deadline of May 20.

This affordable sponsorship opportunity is a meaningful way to support conservation while promoting your business to golfers and guests throughout the day. Sponsors receive signage displayed directly on the course, offering strong local visibility while helping sustain the work of The Jack Miner Migratory Bird Sanctuary.

🎁 We also know that not every person or business is in a position to sponsor a hole--and there are still many wonderful ways to support the tournament. We are gratefully accepting in-kind donations for:
• Door prizes
• Silent auction items
• Golfer giveaways

Gift cards, experiences, local products, services, gift baskets, and promotional items all help make the tournament a memorable success while raising important funds for the Sanctuary.

Your support helps us continue:
• Stewardship of 400+ acres of wildlife habitat
• Maintenance of over 5 km of trails in Kennedy Woods
• Outdoor education experiences for thousands of students
• One of North America’s longest-running bird banding programs
• Preservation of nationally significant conservation history

📎 Learn more about this event and sponsorship opportunities: https://jackminer.ca/golf-tournament/

📧 To sponsor or donate, contact: [email protected]

05/12/2026

Long before modern equipment arrived at the Sanctuary, maintaining the grounds was hard, hands-on work. This historic photograph shows Jasper Miner leading a horse-drawn mower through Ty Cobb Field, with one of the iconic Miner martin houses standing proudly in the background.

For generations, the grasslands at The Jack Miner Migratory Bird Sanctuary have been carefully maintained--not just for appearance, but for the birds themselves. Canada geese especially appreciate short, open grass for grazing, visibility, and safety. These managed open spaces allow geese to feed comfortably while keeping watch for potential danger.

Even today, the Sanctuary’s fields continue to be maintained with wildlife in mind, carrying forward the same stewardship principles that guided the Miner family more than a century ago. What may look like “just grass” is actually an important part of the habitat that supports thousands of migratory birds each year. 🪶🌱

05/11/2026

This past weekend gave us two beautiful reasons to pause and reflect: World Migratory Bird Day on Saturday, and Mother’s Day on Sunday.

Here at Jack's Sanctuary, the two could not feel more connected. Spring migration is a season of renewal--of birds returning home, building nests, and raising the next generation. In this video from our Public Viewing Pond, a Canada goose mother and father guide their newly hatched goslings across the water, a quiet reminder of the care, protection, and instinct that exists throughout the natural world.

For over a century, the arrival of migratory birds has marked the changing seasons at the Sanctuary. But it is moments like these--small families paddling together beneath the spring sun--that remind us why protecting these habitats matters so deeply.

To all mothers--feathered and non-feathered alike--and to the wild journeys that continue to inspire us year after year, we celebrate you. 💛🪿

05/07/2026

🌿 Our Kennedy Woods trails are a special part of our community--a place for quiet walks, connection with nature, and appreciation for the wildlife and native plants that call this habitat home. But beyond their beauty, these woods are a living ecosystem that depends on all of us to help protect it.

It has been brought to our attention that over the weekend, an individual was seen digging up young tree saplings from the woods, potting them, and removing them from the property. This is not permitted.

While it may seem harmless, removing plants from natural habitats damages the delicate balance of the ecosystem. If each visitor took a piece of these woods home with them, there would soon be very little left of the natural space we all know and cherish today.

When visiting Kennedy Woods and all public areas of the Sanctuary, please keep these key conservation principles in mind:

🍃 Do Not Damage Habitat
🍃 Leave No Trace
🍃 Protect Wildlife
🍃 Use Designated Areas

If you are interested in adding native plants or trees to your own property, we encourage you to support one of our many wonderful local nurseries that specialize in native species.

Thank you for helping us protect and preserve these important natural spaces for both wildlife and our community. 💚

05/06/2026

🌿 Summer 2026 Student Job Opportunities at The Jack Miner Migratory Bird Sanctuary 🌿

The Jack Miner Migratory Bird Sanctuary (Kingsville, ON) is hiring secondary and post-secondary students for Spring–Summer 2026!

Whether your interests are in conservation, history, recreation, education, or the outdoors, this is an opportunity to spend your summer immersed in nature while building meaningful skills and experience.

Work among forests, wetlands, grasslands, wildlife, and historic spaces in one of Canada’s most unique conservation settings.

📍 Kingsville, Ontario
💰 $18.50–$20/hour
🕒 35–40 hours/week
📅 8-week placements beginning as early as June 2026

Now Hiring:
🌿 Biological Technicians (2)
🏛️ Interpretive Guides – Museum (2)
🚜 Grounds Maintenance Labourers (4)
🎨 Recreation Coordinators (2)
🔎 Museum Educator & Archivist (1)

To apply, drop off your resume or email it to:
📧 [email protected]
Subject: ATTN: Summer Job

Eligibility Requirements:
• Be between 15–30 years of age at the start of the funded position
• Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or someone to whom refugee status has been granted/conferred
• Have a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN)
• International students and individuals in Canada on a work, youth, or visitor visa/permit are not eligible for the program

Join us this summer and help continue over a century of conservation, education, and community connection. 🦆

05/01/2026