Seabirds

Article written by David A. Snow from Wildland Tours, in St. John's, Newfoundland

INTRODUCTION

This guide is designed to introduce the seabirds and major colonies of Newfoundland and Labrador. There are at least 311 known seabird breeding sites around the Island of Newfoundland. Most are small with a few dozen or few hundred nesting birds. A few colonies are of world significance and number among the planet's largest and most easily accessed colonies. The Labrador coast is less studied, but there are over 1000 breeding sites, including the world's largest razorbill colony.

A seabird is a marine creature that makes its living from the sea. It lives on the ocean's bounty, although it must return to the land to lay eggs. There are exceptions to the rule, however, as ducks, eagles, and osprey, all of whom thrive on marine life, are not considered seabirds.

This page describes all common provincial birds that make a living from the sea, regardless of whether or not they are normally categorized as seabirds. Hopefully nature lovers will find it useful.

SEASONS FOR THE SEABIRDS

For twelve months of the year, the province provides great opportunities to watch seabirds. In fact, Newfoundland and Labrador may just be the world's seabird capital. It is home to the hemisphere's largest gatherings of marine birds. Every year some 35 to 40 million seabirds travel to our waters.

During the autumn, millions of northern birds flee the high Arctic winters of Greenland and the Northwest Territories for ice-free feeding grounds along the coast. Loons, a variety of ducks, and many other water birds from the province and continental North America also choose our ocean waters for their overwintering habitat. As the ice from the Arctic travels south and portions of the ocean freeze, these marine birds feed on the abundant stocks of plankton and the fish that are also attracted to this rich Arctic edge. The south coast of Newfoundland, which remains ice-free, attracts millions of additional seabirds together with northern whales and seals. Some European birds travel across the ocean to join in this little-known feeding frenzy.

As the spring arrives, swarms of seabirds number in the hundreds of thousands gather in the bays and along the coast. Their huge numbers cast a black shadow on the ocean as most hurry north in anticipation of the Arctic spring. While the visitors migrate from Newfoundland, millions of additional seabirds depart their offshore overwintering areas on the Grand Banks or further south and approach the coastal island and remote cliff faces of Newfoundland and Labrador. These breeders create some of the largest seabird colonies in the world. As spring turns to summer, the eagles return to their nests, Arctic terns arrive from the southern hemisphere to breed, while shearwaters from as far away as the Antarctic arrive to pursue the caplin and other marine fish off the coast. One of the planet's largest gatherings of osprey arrives to breed and fish the rich waters. This is world seabird central.

Over the spring and summer the gannets, murres, gulls, storm-petrels, and other seabirds carry on the serious business of mating and raising a family. This is when most visitors come to photograph the colourful puffins and the other breeding seabirds with their young. Few people leave disappointed. During these months the seabird watching opportunities of the province have been described by international experts as the best in the world.

Most seabirds have left their breeding sites for open sea by September. In many cases the newly fledged chicks will spend a year or two on the ocean before even seeing land again.

The waters are quiet until October or November when the Arctic seabirds return to carry on a cycle that has endured for thousands of years. A few of these visiting northern seabirds will be making their 20th or 30th winter trip to Newfoundland - no surprise since seabirds are long-lived creatures that have evolved to survive the challenging cold waters of the North Atlantic Ocean.

The world of our seabirds is rich and chaotic. On the ocean huge feeding flocks, sometimes made up of a dozen or more different species, plunge, swim, or dive after a variety of fish and other small sea creatures. The large breeding colonies of seabirds have been called bazaars due to their resemblance to the loud and colourful mix of peoples and cultures found in the bazaars of the Middle East. The Newfoundland and Labrador seabird bazaars are a dazzling mix of sights and sounds. Thousands of kittiwakes rise and swarm around ravens or predatory gulls in a dizzying display of screams and aerial acrobatics. Puffins add colourful contrast to green grassy slopes or dark rocky outcroppings. Murres are so tightly packed together that individuals arrive from sea often have to land on the heads of their ledge-sharing companions. Razorbills and black guillemots hide between boulders in small caves. Gannets add a white and yellow crown to the seastacks and high ground. As the day turns into night, the nonstop cries of the gulls give way to the purring songs of the storm-petrels. (The seabirds exhibit at the Newfoundland Museum in St. John's successfully captures some of the atmosphere of a seabird bazaar. Anyone with an interest in marine biology or natural history will enjoy a visit to the Museum.)

Day and night there is constant sound and motion. These birds are born to chaos. As a result, careful visitors who watch the spectacle of life and death in a large seabird colony are unlikely to disturb the birds. People cause no harm when they are quiet, polite, and careful; care must be taken. Puffins and storm-petrels dig burrows that will be crushed underfoot. A gunshot or loud noise will flush tens of thousands of birds who, in their panic, will knock helpless chicks off the ledges. This "fly off" allows gulls and ravens to snatch up other unprotected chicks. Young loons or eiders who are separated from parents by boats can also fall prey to the ever-present gulls. People and boats have been around seabird colonies for centuries, and when the people are careful about not causing disturbances, the birds thrive. Many large colonies have been turned into Ecological Reserves where birds are protected and humans are required to be well-behaved.

OUR SEABIRDS

The challenges of earning a living from the ocean has resulted in some basic behaviors and characteristics common to most seabirds. Most spend all of their nonbreeding lives on the ocean. They come to land because of the need to lay eggs. Usually both parents share the duties of raising the young, and in most cases it is impossible to tell a male from a female. This listing describes our most common seabirds and where to see them.

The Auks

The auk family, which is widespread throughout the northern coastal areas of the northern hemisphere, consists of penguin-shaped, black-and-white seabirds. They are often referred to as the northern hemisphere's version of the penguin; however, they are not related to this well-known family of flightless southern hemisphere birds. The extinct great auk, they only flightless member of the auk family, was the original penguin. European sailors named the southern counterparts after the Newfoundland penguin, despite these families not being related.

[Young Auk] Auks typically lay a single, large egg and feed themselves by diving after fish and other marine animals. They use their wings for both flight and underwater propulsion, as well as diving to great depths. Common murres have frequently been captured in nets set 200 meters underwater - they are probably the deepest diving member of the auk family. Auks are very vulnerable to oil pollution - in some parts of the world, tens of thousands have died in a day due to oil spills.

This family thrives in Newfoundland and Labrador. The razorbill or tinker is roughly 40 cm long with a thick black bill highlighted by a vertical white stripe. It lays one egg, most commonly under a boulder or in a crevice. It breeds in Newfoundland and Labrador on coastal islands like Baccalieu Island and the Witless Bay Islands and at sites like Cape St. Mary's. The Gannet Islands off Labrador are home to the largest colony of razorbills in the world.

During the summer, the common murre (also called the common guillemot and turr) is the province's most numerous auk. Large numbers of adults crowd together on the flat cliff ledges along many coastal islands. Some of the adults have white rings around their eyes. The female lays a single, colourful egg, and the pair take turns warming it and guarding against the ever-watchful gulls and ravens. The chick is still quite small when it jumps from the ledge in mid to late summer and swims out to sea with one of its parents. The chick may live on the orth Atlantic for two or three years before it returns to the coastal islands and takes its place on the breeding cliffs. Between May and early August, Cape St. Mary's and Baccalieu Island are two prime areas for viewing murres. Green Island of the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve is the continent's second largest colony, while distant Funk Island is the largest colony in the world.

Thick-billed murres (also called Brunnich's guillemots and turrs) are scattered among the narrow cliff edges of most of our large common murre colonies. These are the most southerly thick-billed murres int he world. While their breeding biology and behaviour are very close to the common murre, in winter they have different colouring, and in summer the white horizontal stripe on their upper bills allows birdwatchers to distinguish thickbills from common murres.

[Auk] Newfoundland and Labrador's provincial bird, the Atlantic puffin, is slightly smaller and stouter than the murre and is one of our more colourful marine creatures. Its thick orange, yellow, and grey bill makes it one of the world's most famous birds. Not only does it flu and swim underwater, its razor-sharp claws allow it to dig deep burrows into the rich soil of seabird island. At the bottom of this protective burrow it lays a single egg, which both parents look after until late August or early September when the chick is ready for life at sea.

The province is home to about 95 per cent of the continent's Atlantic puffins. They can be viewed at Witless Bay (the continent's largest colony), Baccalieu (second largest colony), and many other smaller colonies.

Although the puffin tends to be the favourite subject of photographers, the brilliant red legs of the black guillemot (or sea pigeon) when combined with its jet black body and brilliant white wing patches make this auk a very colourful subject. Although the height of a puffin, its body is much sleeker with fast, powerful wingbeats. It is a quick flyer that stays low to the water and nests in inaccessible caves and crevices. While these habits make it one of the most challenging seabirds to photograph, it can usually be seen at a distance flying low to the water all around the northeast coast of the province.

During the winter, the bays and coastline of Newfoundland's northeast and south coasts are filled with millions of dovekies (little auks or bull birds). These robin-sized seabirds arrive ahead of the Arctic ice to feed upon plankton and tiny fish. During the spring they return to the north where they breed in huge colonies along the Greenland coast.

The auks are among the most common seabird families found in Newfoundland. Winter or summer, Newfoundland and Labrador is truly a land of the auks.

The Gulls

[Glaucous The gulls are among the world's most familiar birds. Although these long-winded soaring birds are often called seagulls, some varieties have individuals that travel thousands of kilometres from the ocean. Other gulls, like the kittiwake, are seldom seen near the coast once the breeding season is past. Young gulls go through a series of colour pattern changes between hatching and adulthood, and some gulls have different winter and summer plumage. Over 20 varieties of gulls and terns have been reported from Newfoundland and Labrador waters. Field guides and field experience are often necessary to make a reliable decision about the varieties of gulls seen in an area. Our most commonly seen varieties are the herring gull (they nest all around the province), the great black-backed gull (also called the saddle back, the world's largest gull), black-legged kittiwake (also called the tickle ace - Newfoundland has the continent's largest colonies and dozens of small colonies), ring-billed gull (also called the pond gull - numerous nesting sites along the coast and in land) Arctic terns (dozens of coastal breeding islands), and common terns (whom usually share breeding sites with Arctic terns). A few black-headed gulls, Caspian terns, and perhaps a few other members of the gull family breed in low numbers on different coastal sites, while over a dozen other varieties of gull and tern can visit the province during a year.

The Jaegers and Skuas

This family of northern hawk-like seabirds with slightly hooked beaks are the pirates of the bird world. They will capture the odd prey live, but are best known for their habit of pursuing large seabirds and forcing them to give up their food. They also sometimes catch and eat smaller seabirds. They do not nest in Newfoundland, but are seen along the headlands and off shore from the northeast coast as they seek out other seabirds to chase and harass.

[Great Skua] The three types of jaegers can be distinguished by the shape of their central tail feathers. The pomarine jaeger has rounded tail feathers, while the long-tailed jaeger's pointed, central tail feathers can project more than 12 centimetres (4 inches) beyond the other tail feathers. The parasitic jaeger has pointed central tail feathers projecting just a few centimetres beyond the other tail feathers. There are other differences in colour, but the variety of colours within each of three types makes it a challenge to distinguish between them without lots of practice.

Two types of skuas, or sea hen, are also found off the province's coast. (In the British Isle the jaegers are commonly called skuas, so care must be taken when naming one of these birds.) Every summer a few great skuas, together with some South Polar skuas, scavenge and steal from the province's seabirds. During the winter larger numbers of great skuas from the Canadian Arctic travel to the Grand Banks and coastal headlands to feed and wait for the chance to return to their northern feeding grounds. These dark birds are the same size as a herring gull. Look for the white wing patch on the dark brown body. Some South Polar skuas have blond head parts, but it requires experience to distinguish between the two skuas off the coast.

The Ducks

The interior of the province is home to a variety of ducks. Many of these feed on the ocean during some or most of the year. Many eiders, or "shore ducks", build nests along the coast. The eider, our largest duck, once lived by the tens of thousands along the shore, before hunting and egging dramatically reduced its numbers. Today it numbers a few thousand pairs scattered along the northern peninsula, northeast coast, and south coast. During the winter these are joined by tens of thousands of more northerly nesting eiders together with the king eider. Both varieties of eider feature drab brown juveniles and females together with brilliant black, yellow, green, and white adult males. The king eider has the thickest bill, with a large orange knob-like shield on the forehead of the males of the species. Mussels and small crabs are the favourite foods. Another sea duck resembling the eider was known as the Labrador duck, but it only existed in small numbers before its extinction.

The eiders are joined on the ocean by a variety of other sea ducks. Three types of scoter - surf, black, and white-winged - are seen along the coast, sometimes in flocks of several thousand. Most of these nest north of Newfoundland, but flocks of nonbreeders can be seen during the summer. During the fall and winter, these are joined by adults and young from the north. Scoters feed on mussels, as well as a variety of other small saltwater animals.

The harlequin is one of the world's most beautiful marine creatures. This endangered duck nests along fast flowing rivers in Newfoundland and Labrador, moving to the coast during the fall where it can sometimes be seen feeding on small marine animals along the pounding waves of a rocky shoreline. They are nicknamed lords and ladies by the locals because of their rich blue-and-white coloration. Wildlife offices and naturalists will appreciate hearing from anybody who spots one of these colourful endangered ducks. Also, every responsible duck hunter needs to know how to identify them so they can be left undisturbed.

Two types of mergansers (shell duck, shell bird, fish duck) with their saw-like bills and crested heads are commonly seen along the coastline in winter. The specialized bills of the red-breasted and common mergansers allow them to catch and hold fish plus other aquatic prey.

The old squaw or hound is an attractive seaduck (males have long, pointed tails) which spends its summers in the Arctic, and winters off the province's coast. It is known to dive deeper than 160 meters in search of shrimp, mussels, small fish, and other seafood.

A few other varieties of duck are also found along the coast. The black duck is very common around the province although several other varieties, for example buffleheads and goldeneye, will also leave the ponds to feed along the sea shore. The black duck is our most common pond duck, and many f these birds spend the winter feeding on snails and plants along the coast. Often mixed winter flocks of scoters, eiders, old squaw, mergansers, and goldeneyes are seen.

The Shearwaters

Members of this family of soaring seabirds use their long wings to glide effortlessly over the tops of the waves. Shearwaters, also called bawks and hagdowns have tube-like external nostril. They are birds of the open sea, seldom seen from the land. The one exception to this rule is during the summer in Newfoundland, when greater, sooty, and Manx shearwaters are often seen from the headlands. At St. Vincent's on the southern Avalon Peninsula, shearwaters pursue caplin into a freshwater pond. Visitors can stand on the beach between ocean and pond and watch these seabirds soar by. This contrasts dramatically to the six-hour autumn ocean voyages endured by American birdwatchers interested in catching a glimpse of a passing shearwater.

The greater and sooty shearwaters nest in the southern hemisphere but travel to Newfoundland and Labrador to take advantage of the caplin and other small fish. Manx shearwaters attracted to the Grand Banks from Europe have established a small colony on Newfoundland's south coast and appear to be prosecuting for new colony sites. Other shearwaters including the Cory's shearwater are occasionally drawn to the Newfoundland and Labrador coast by the rich feeding or by an ocean storm.

The Northern fulmar or noddy is a stiff-winged oceanic glider that also belongs to the shearwater family. It resembles a herring gull and is often seen associated with flocks of gulls, but it can be distinguished by its tubed bill and thicker, shorter wings. Although low numbers of fular nest in a variety of Newfoundland colonies, they are a common sight far out to sea.

The Storm-petrels

while storm-petrels are almost unknown to people on shore, sailors have had superstitions about the hoards of these small birds for centuries. These seabirds spend their days feeding far out on the ocean. Usually they only approach land under cover of darkness. They are small, starling-sized seabirds with sooty brown plumage and a white stripe on the tail. They have a tube-shaped nose and clawed, webbed feet which aid them in digging their small burrows in the grass of offshore islands. A storm-petrel produced a rich oil from its seafood diet to feed its single chick. Many small islands off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador are honey-combed with tens of thousands of their burrows The common name of "Cary chick" or "Mother Cary's chickens" or "Mother Cary's children" is believed to be derived from an ancient Norse tale about a spirit that moved on the water and terrorized Viking sailors. And old Irish legend holds that the birds are the souls of lost sailors. The mysterious songs, oily odour, and unfortunate habit of crashing by the thousands onto ships at sea provide some modern understanding of these ancient superstitions.

The Wilson's storm-petrel is slightly smaller than its close relative, the fork-tailed Leach's storm-petrel. The Wilson's storm-petrel flies up from the southern hemisphere by the millions to feed off the province's coast. Both storm-petrels are among the most abundant birds in the world.

The wings, feathers, and bones of storm-petrels are often found along headlands and in other areas where gulls land to eat. Storm-petrels are seldom seen except far out at sea and at night around their many colonies. Occasionally summer or fall storms will drive them close to the shore during daylight hours, but it is a lucky birdwatcher who catches a glimpse of this secretive seabird.

The Gannet

northern gannets crown the colonies at Cape St Mary's, Baccalieu, and Funk Island, and they can also be spotted at many locations along the northeast and south coasts. Photographers enjoy capturing their blue eye rings, bill-fencing and other social behaviours, as well as their graceful flight The gannet's white wings have coal black tips, and the wingspan is close to 2 metres. These birds are plunge divers and will drop into the sea from heights of 40 or more metres in pursuit of caplin, herring, mackerel, squid, and other prey. Once underwater, they use their partially extended wings to chase their prey. Gannets arrive in Newfoundland in early spring and depart for warmer weathers as far south as Florida in October. During the summer, the colonies are joined by black-and-brown juveniles from previous years who come to search for future nest sites. Gannets are the only members of the booby family found in cold climates.

The Birds of Prey

The presence of large numbers of seabirds always attracts the attention of predators and scavengers. Foxes, ravens, and large gulls take advantage of the constant activity around a seabird colony to take an egg, chick, or unsuspecting adult. Birds of prey are sometimes tempted to attack a seabird colony, but the spirited defense offered by kittiwakes, murres, and large gulls will often defer them. Nevertheless, seabird colonies are interesting places to view birds of prey.

In this province, two birds of prey are often included among lists of seabirds. The osprey or fish hawk sometimes nests close to the ocean where it fishes for flounder and other small marine fish. Hovering high above the water, this masked fishing bird drops from the sky and catches its prey in its razor-sharp claws. Other osprey catch trout and salmon from rivers and ponds. Although the osprey is an endangered species, the province boasts some strong populations. There are places all over Newfoundland and Labrador, including ponds in the heard of St. John's, where it is often possible to watch osprey.

The bald eagle is a year-round resident of Newfoundland and Labrador, and rightly earns the designation of seabird. Although it is an occasional predator on gulls, murres, and other prey, most of its food comes from the ocean. Bald eagles use their excellent eyesight to fish or, more often, scavenge for dead fish along the coast. High numbers of eagles can be seen in parts of Placentia Bay and Trinity Bay, but they are found all along the coast of the province.

Other Seabirds

[Dovekies] A variety of other seabirds are also found around the coast. The common loon (great northern diver, waabie) nests on lakes and along sheltered coastal areas in Terra Nova National Park. During the winter, Newfoundland and Labrador's loons join the flocks of other seabirds on the coast Here they are joined by loons from other parts of North America, including some red-throated loons from the north.

Double-crested and great cormorants, known as shags to locals, share some small colonies along the coast. Phalaropes, grebes, and a host of occasional visitors add to the delight of watching our seabirds. In summer the seabird colonies often provide great whale watching. The winter will often bring different varieties of whales, but it s still an unforgettable spectacle as huge gatherings of dolphins often frolic near the rafts of eider ducks and dovekies.

THE MAJOR COLONIES

All travellers to Newfoundland and Labrador should make the effort to experience the ocean, the domain of the seabird. There are literally hundreds of picturesque coastal areas and islands where gulls, terns, or black guillemots nest. The major colonies are situated along the northeast and southeast portions of the Newfoundland coast. The following listing is restricted to the major colonies and sites where travellers can view seabirds while causing a minimum of disturbance. Newfoundland and Labrador's tourism department publishes and annual guide that highlights boat tour companies and other nature travel services that take visitors to view the seabird colonies. Check the guide for available services as well as accommodations before driving to a community near a bird colony.

Two of the province's largest colonies, Gannet Island and Funk Island, are not included since they are many kilometres from the nearest road or point of land. Funk Island was home to the now extinct great auk, the first bird to be called a penguin. Today Funk Island is the world's largest murre colony and home to a variety of other species. Newfoundland's native people, the Beothuk, and the peoples who lived here before them, paddled out to funk Island to hunt and collect eggs. The Funks often served as the first stopping point for European boats on their way to the New World.

Although Newfoundland and Labrador is blessed with huge numbers of seabirds, the history of the great auk and the Labrador duck - another extinct local seabird - proves that mankind must act responsibly or else face the possibility that other parts of or rich marine heritage will also be lost forever.

The following descriptions include basic estimates of population sizes at the various colonies. Counting tens-of-thousands of the fast-moving, flying, diving, and burrowing creatures as they come and go from dangerously rugged and remote locations is an inexact science. The figures are designed to provide travellers with an indication of seabird varieties and abundance at some of the larger provincial sites.

Baccalieu Island Ecological Reserve
Travel view the Baccalieu Trail; take route 70 or route 70 via route 80. This is a two-hour drive from St. John's International Airport.

This island off the northeastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula is Newfoundland's largest seabird island. The eleven types of breeding seabird make it the most diverse colony in eastern North America. The name Baccalieu comes from the Basque word for codfish. The area's rich fishery was renowned as long ago as 1503 when the island began appearing on the first charts and maps of the new world.

Baccalieu Island is the continent's second largest puffin colony. It is also home to black-legged kittiwake, common and thick-billed murres, razorbills, black guillemots, a few northern fulmars, and a small gannet colony. Very few large gulls nest on the island, their presence discourage by a small population of red foxes. Black-backed a herring gulls are found on Puffin Island, just off Baccalieu's western shore.

the most remarkable attribute of the island is hidden during the daylight hours, but at night the grassy slopes and inland forest some alive to the varied songs of what is estimated to be over 3.3 million pairs of Leach's storm-petrel This is the world's largest gathering of these starling-sized, tube nosed, burrowing birds.

Although visitors to Baccalieu will probably not see a storm-petrel, this huge gathering of birds is a special but little known part of the world's marine heritage.

Check the Newfoundland and Labrador Travel Guide for boat tours and accommodations.

Cape St. Mary's Ecological Reserve
Travel via the Irish Loop - also called the Cape Shore Highway, route 100. This is over a two hour drive from the St. John's International Airport, and is also accessible via route 90.

Here you can view one of our planet's greatest marine spectacles without using a boat. The Cape St. Mary's Ecological Reserve boasts the world's most southerly colony of Northern gannets. This collection of approximately 5400 pairs also happens to be the continent's third largest gannet colony. Between April and October, the sea stack at Cape St. Mary's, known as "Bird Rock", is covered by the brilliant white-and-gold heads of the gannets. The breeding success of the gannets on the stack has forced some birds over to the ledges of the mainland making Cape St. Mary's the only place in north America where gannets nest on the land.

[black-legged kittiwake] This reserve is a must-see for nature lovers. In season, the gannets are joined by approximately 10,000 pairs of black-legged kittiwake and 10,000 pairs of common murres. Between May and August, the mating behaviours, together with the laying of eggs and feeding of chicks, provide visitors with intimate views in the life of a seabird. The reserve is also home to the world's most southerly breeding site for thick-billed murres about 1000 pairs) and also provides opportunities to view razorbills, black guillemots, herring gulls, black-backed gulls, double-crested cormorants, and great cormorants Ravens, eagles, and other birds of prey are also drawn to the area by the nonstop activities of the nesting seabirds.

During the summer a variety of whales, seals, and visiting seabirds such as shearwaters, add to the richness of this site. Newfoundland bird watchers also seek out the Cape during the winter, when huge rafts of eider ducks mingle with scoters, dovekies, murres, harlequin ducks, old squaw ducks, grebes, loons, and other seabirds along the rugged coastline.

Also during the summer, an interpretation centre at the end of the access road offers information, education programs, and guidance to visitors In the nineteenth century several people died at Cape St. Mary's while attempting to collect eggs from cliff-edge nesting sites. The areas high cliffs, slipper-when-wet rocks, and frequent fog all require visitors to take sensible precautions. The friendly guides at the interpretation centre will provide information about the birds and ensure that your visit is as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. Bird Rock is situated a short distance from the parking lot and visitor centre. Twenty minutes of leisurely walking will take you within eight metres of the gannet stack. Come prepared with warm clothing, binoculars, and lots of extra film for your camera. This site has been described internationally as "the most accessible and best seabird watching spot in the world". The rich musical traditions and hospitality of the Cape Shore can also enhance a visit to unforgettable Cape St. Mary's.

Check the Newfoundland andLabrador travel Guide for siteseeing tours and accommodation listings.

Hare Bay Ecological Reserve
Closest communities to islands are along route 432, main Brook and route 430, St. Anthony and goose Cove. Main Brook is one hour from the St. Anthony Airport, Goose Cove is fifteen minutes from St. Anthony.

The islands of this reserve are home to some of the province's largest gatherings of common and Arctic terns. Herring, black-backed, and ring-billed gulls, together with several hundred pairs of eider duck, also add to the seabird diversity. A variety of other seabirds are often reported in the spring and fall. The Northern Peninsula and Hare Bay areas are the best places in Newfoundland for viewing the colourful black-white-and-gold male eiders together with their brown-and-black mates and chicks. Early in the summer all boats must take special care to avoid young eiders out on the ocean sine large gulls can quickly catch the young birds once they are separated from their parents.

Wadham, Penguin, and Cabot Islands
Closest communities to islands are along route 330 - Kittiwake Coast and route 333 and 334 on Fogo Island. This is an hour and a half drive from Gander International Airport.

This ground of seven islands located to the southeast of Fogo is home to puffins, storm-petrels, common murres, black guillemots, razorbills, common terns, Arctic terns, Caspian terns, herring gulls, ring-billed gulls, and great black-backed gulls. Small numbers of eider ducks and other seabirds may also be observed around this archipelago at the entrance to Hamilton Sound.

The name and flat topography of the Penguin Islands add strength to old reports of this area once being a breeding ground for the great auk. Winter and summer provides great seabird watching opportunities.

Witless Bay Ecological Reserve
Route 10, fifty minutes from St. John's International Airport.

[Black Guillemot] This reserve, located just south of St. John's, is made up of four islands: Gull, Green, Great, Pee Pee. These are home to the continent's largest gathering of Atlantic puffins (over 90,000 pairs) and the world's second largest colony of Leach's storm-petrel. The reserve also features North America's second largest kittiwake colony. In addition, there are a few dozen black-backed gulls, razorbills, and black guillemots. Reports of Manx shearwaters on the reserve together with the establishment of a small Manx shearwater colony, orth America's first, on Middle Lawn Island off the Burin Peninsula lead some scientists to suspect that a few Manx shearwaters may be found in an occasional burrow among the reserve's tens of thousands of puffin burrows.

Check the Newfoundland and Labrador travel Guide for boat tours and accommodations.

Other Colonies

The colonies listed are among the largest and most important in the world. Newfoundland and Labrador boasts hundreds of additional seabird colonies, as well as many other sites and lookouts where residents and visitors can enjoy quality bird watching. If Manx shearwaters are of special interest, then Middle Lawn Island off the Burin Peninsula is the best location. Small numbers f cormorants nest on several island in Placentia Bay. A few black-headed gulls are nesting on some islands off Newfoundland's west coast. Puffins, storm-petrels, kittiwakes, and numerous other seabirds can be found in dozens of additional colonies.

Additional References

In the early 1950s, the Government of Newfoundland hired naturalist Roger Tory Peterson to illustrate a book entitled The Birds of Newfoundland by H. S. Peters and T. D. Burleigh. Peterson went on to become one of the world's best known and loved naturalists and wildlife educators. The colour plates of this guide were drawn by Dr. Peterson to illustrate this provincial book, which is now a collector's item.

Of further interest: our listing of Newfoundland birds

This document was transcribed by permission from "A Self-Driving Guide: Seabirds", and is available from the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Tourism, Culture, & Recreation.
Article written by David A. Snow from Wildland Tours, in St. John's, Newfoundland
Watercolour Illustration by Ventzeslav Vesselinov
Transcribed for HTML by Erin McKee
Printed in Canada by Dicks & Company Ltd, 1996
ISBN: 1-55146-038-6

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