Birding is quite good here in the southern wooded and grassy areas of the island, and along the shoreline when rowing activities are not in full swing.

Henley Island is located just outside of Port Dalhousie. Port Dalhousie was formally a small historic town but is now a district located in the northern part of St. Catharines. In 1934, Henley Island was only 400 meters wide, with its landscape consisting of flat land and a few trees surrounding its outskirts. As of 2019, Henley Island has expanded to be around 800 meters wide. The island holds boathouses for both the St. Catharines Rowing Club and the Ridley Graduate Boat Club. In addition, the island has a small running path, and a small parking lot. Martindale Pond, which surrounds Henley Island, is mainly bordered by suburbs. The Queen Elizabeth Way crosses over the south of Martindale Pond, and there are viewing stands located towards the north side of the pond. Martindale Pond was originally an artificially constructed lake that was used by vessels to navigate the earlier routes of the Welland Canal. The first Welland Canal began at the mouth of the Martindale Pond, followed the Twelve Mile Creek to Port Robinson, and finally connected to the Welland River. The Welland River connects to the Niagara River and then drains into Lake Erie. Building the Canal was labour-intensive work done by European immigrants with very few tools to work with.

The Royal Canadian Regatta has been hosted at Henley Island since 1903, after being established in Toronto in the 1800s. The Royal Canadian Henley Regatta was moved to Henley Island and now Martindale Pond is its permeant location. The change in location was because the locks from the Welland Canal allowed control of water levels for races. The Royal Canadian Henley is one of North America's premiere Regattas. It hosts competitors and visitors from all over the world and brings thousands of athletes each year. Additionally, the island has also hosted the 2015 Pan-Am Games and World Rowing Championships in 1970, 1999, and will be hosting again in 2024. When the island is not holding large events, it is used by the St. Catharines Rowing Club, Brock University Rowing Team, and Ridley Graduate Boat Club.

Dawes, Mia. 2019. Local Landscape Report: Henley Island. http://www.guidetags.com/mindmaps/explore/tour-geog-2p94-human-dominated-ecosystems/3806-dawes-mia-local-landscape-report-henley-island

Milliere, Matt. 2018. Local Landscape Report: Henley Island. http://www.guidetags.com/mindmaps/explore/local-landscape-reports-niagara/3393-milliere-matt-local-landscape-report-henley-island

Niagara Greenbelt Gateway Website. 2013. Henley Island. http://brocku.niagaragreenbelt.com/listings/73-natural-habitats-a-features/1009-henley-island.html