Bird Islands
Bird Islands is proposed as a Tier 1 site for the Marine Conservation Network in the Scotian Shelf-Bay of Fundy Bioregion.
Potential conservation approach will be determined with Unama'ki Institute of Natural Resources.
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Location
Bird Islands includes the waters surrounding Ciboux and Hertford Islands, which are located off of the northern coast of Cape Breton near Cape Dauphin.
Map of proposed Bird Islands network site
Simplified site coordinates
Boundaries are preliminary and subject to change following the public engagement.
| Point | Latitude | Longitude | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 46°23' 13.1" N | 60°21' 21.6" W | Starting at point 1 on the northeast side of the site |
| 2 | 46°22' 50.9" N | 60°21' 38.7" W | Connect to point 2, southwest of point 1 |
| 3 | 46°21' 25.3" N | 60°23' 17.7" W | Connect to point 3, southwest of point 2 |
| 4 | 46°21' 16.4" N | 60°23' 38.9" W | Connect to point 4, southwest of point 3 |
| 5 | 46°21' 16.1" N | 60°24' 19.9" W | Connect to point 5, west of point 4 |
| 6 | 46°21' 35.4" N | 60°24' 46.1" W | Connect to point 6, northwest of point 5 |
| 7 | 46°22' 4.1" N | 60°24' 41.8" W | Connect to point 7, northeast of point 6 |
| 8 | 46°22' 52.5" N | 60°23' 37.9" W | Connect to point 8, northeast of point 7 |
| 9 | 46°23' 51.1" N | 60°22' 27.8" W | Connect to point 9, northeast of point 8 |
| 10 | 46°23' 52.6" N | 60°21' 55.9" W | Connect to point 10, east of point 9 |
| 11 | 46°23' 31.1" N | 60°21' 22.8" W | Connect to point 11, southeast of point 10 and connect point 11 to point 1 |
Size
11 km2
Features
- Area of high cultural significance to Mi'kmaq people
- Important foraging area for seabirds and shorebirds
- Area of high bird diversity
- Overwintering area for Atlantic herring
- Juvenile/nursery area for Atlantic cod and white hake
- High abundance of scallop
- Identified as an Important Bird Area
- Nearby terrestrial protection, including:
- Bird Islands Wildlife Management Area
- Hertford Island (managed by the Nova Scotia Nature Trust as a bird sanctuary)
- Isolated island (unique geomorphological feature)
Species
This area supports species, including:
- Atlantic herring
- Depleted groundfish populations, such as:
- White hake (assessed as threatened by COSEWIC)
- Atlantic cod (assessed as endangered by COSEWIC)
- Winter skate (assessed as endangered by COSEWIC)
- Seabirds and shorebirds, such as:
- Northern gannet
- Atlantic puffin
- Cormorant
- Black-legged kittiwake
- American lobster
Use
- The nearby Kluskap sea cave is a very important Mi'kmaq site with strong cultural and spiritual significance.
- Current fisheries include lobster, rock crab and scallop.
- Licences issued to First Nations and Indigenous communities provide access to this area to fish for food, social and ceremonial purposes.
- Recreational activities include:
- hiking
- boat and kayak tours
- bird and whale watching
- Date modified: