List of Migratory Bird Sanctuaries of Canada facts for kids
Imagine special places in Canada where birds are safe! These are called Migratory Bird Sanctuaries. They are like protected homes for birds, especially those that travel long distances during migration. These sanctuaries are created under a law called the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994. The Canadian Wildlife Service helps manage these important areas.
Canada has a long history of protecting birds. The very first bird sanctuary in North America, Last Mountain Lake Bird Sanctuary, was set up way back in 1887! These sanctuaries help make sure birds have safe places to rest, feed, and raise their young.
Contents
- Canada's Bird Sanctuaries
- Bird Sanctuaries in Alberta
- Bird Sanctuaries in British Columbia
- Bird Sanctuaries in Manitoba
- Bird Sanctuaries in New Brunswick
- Bird Sanctuaries in Newfoundland and Labrador
- Bird Sanctuaries in Nova Scotia
- Bird Sanctuaries in Ontario
- Bird Sanctuaries in Quebec
- Bird Sanctuaries on Prince Edward Island
- Bird Sanctuaries in Saskatchewan
- Bird Sanctuaries in the Northwest Territories
- Bird Sanctuaries in Nunavut
- Bird Sanctuaries in Yukon
- More About Protected Areas
Canada's Bird Sanctuaries
Bird Sanctuaries in Alberta
There are four Migratory Bird Sanctuaries located in Alberta. These areas provide important habitats for birds in the province.
| Name | Year Created | Area (hectares) |
|---|---|---|
| Red Deer | 1924 | 130 ha (320 acres) |
| Saskatoon Lake | 1948 | 1,135 ha (2,800 acres) |
| Richardson Lake | 1949 | 12,705 ha (31,390 acres) |
| Inglewood | 1968 | 1,600 ha (4,000 acres) |
Bird Sanctuaries in British Columbia
British Columbia is home to seven Migratory Bird Sanctuaries. These sanctuaries protect various coastal and inland bird populations.
| Name | Year Created | Area (hectares) |
|---|---|---|
| Vaseux Lake | 1923 | 282 ha (700 acres) |
| Victoria Harbour | 1923 | 1,700 ha (4,200 acres) |
| Esquimalt Lagoon | 1931 | 129.6 ha (320 acres) |
| Shoal Harbour | 1931 | 150 ha (370 acres) |
| Nechako River | 1944 | 180 ha (440 acres) |
| Christie Islet | 1962 | 0.81 ha (2.0 acres) |
| George C. Reifel | 1967 | 648 ha (1,600 acres) |
Bird Sanctuaries in Manitoba
Currently, there are no Migratory Bird Sanctuaries in the province of Manitoba.
Bird Sanctuaries in New Brunswick
There are three Migratory Bird Sanctuaries in New Brunswick. These sites are important for birds along the Atlantic coast.
| Name | Year Created | Area (hectares) |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Manan | 1931 | 250 ha (620 acres) |
| Machias Seal Island | 1944 | 9.5 ha (23 acres) |
| Inkerman | 1998 | 15.1 ha (37 acres) |
Bird Sanctuaries in Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador has three Migratory Bird Sanctuaries. These areas help protect seabirds and other migratory species.
| Name | Year Created | Area (hectares) |
|---|---|---|
| Terra Nova | 1967 | 870 ha (2,100 acres) |
| Ile aux Canes | 1991 | 150 ha (370 acres) |
| Shepherd Island | 1991 | 16 ha (40 acres) |
Bird Sanctuaries in Nova Scotia
There are seven Migratory Bird Sanctuaries in Nova Scotia. These sanctuaries protect various bird species, especially those found along the coast.
| Name | Year Created | Area (hectares) |
|---|---|---|
| Big Glace Bay Lake | 1939 | 240 ha (590 acres) |
| Kentville | 1939 | 200 ha (490 acres) |
| Port L'Hebert | 1941 | 350 ha (860 acres) |
| Port Joli | 1941 | 280 ha (690 acres) |
| Sable River | 1941 | 260 ha (640 acres) |
| Amherst Point | 1947 | 429 ha (1,060 acres) |
| Sable Island | 1977 | 2,350 ha (5,800 acres) |
| Haley Lake | 1980 | 100 ha (250 acres) |
Bird Sanctuaries in Ontario
Ontario has nine Migratory Bird Sanctuaries. These areas are important for birds in central Canada, including those along the Great Lakes.
| Name | Year Created | Area (hectares) |
|---|---|---|
| Hannah Bay | 1939 | 29,500 ha (73,000 acres) |
| St. Joseph's Island | 1951 | 940 ha (2,300 acres) |
| Chantry Island | 1957 | 81 ha (200 acres) |
| Rideau Valley Wildlife Sanctuary | 1957 | 809.4 ha (2,000 acres) |
| Moose River | 1958 | 1,457 ha (3,600 acres) |
| Mississippi Lake | 1959 | 430 ha (1,100 acres) |
| Upper Canada | 1961 | 2,663 ha (6,580 acres) |
| Beckett Creek | 1969 | 103 ha (250 acres) |
| Eleanor Island | 1971 | 0.6 ha (1.5 acres) |
Bird Sanctuaries in Quebec
Quebec has the most Migratory Bird Sanctuaries, with twenty-eight of them. These sanctuaries protect a wide variety of birds, from seabirds to those in wetlands.
| Name | Year Created | Area (hectares) | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bonaventure Island and Percé Rock | 1919 | 1,360 ha (3,400 acres) | |
| Rochers aux Oiseaux | 1919 | 625 ha (1,540 acres) | 47°51′N 61°00′W / 47.850°N 61.000°W |
| Brador Bay [fr] | 1925 | 538 ha (1,330 acres) | |
| Baie des Loups [fr] | 1925 | 3,550 ha (8,800 acres) | 50°10′N 60°18′W / 50.167°N 60.300°W |
| Betchouane [fr] | 1925 | 462 ha (1,140 acres) | 50°12′N 63°13′W / 50.200°N 63.217°W |
| Île à la Brume [fr] | 1925 | 4,320 ha (10,700 acres) | 50°10′N 60°30′W / 50.167°N 60.500°W |
| Îles Sainte-Marie [fr] | 1925 | 4,100 ha (10,000 acres) | 50°18′N 59°40′W / 50.300°N 59.667°W |
| Saint-Augustin [fr] | 1925 | 5,570 ha (13,800 acres) | 51°08′N 58°28′W / 51.133°N 58.467°W |
| Watshishou [fr] | 1925 | 11,320 ha (28,000 acres) | |
| Île aux Basques [fr] | 1927 | 933 ha (2,310 acres) | |
| Senneville [fr] | 1936 | 569 ha (1,410 acres) | |
| Île aux Hérons [fr] | 1937 | 622 ha (1,540 acres) | 45°25′N 73°35′W / 45.417°N 73.583°W |
| Ile Carillon | 1937 | 426 ha (1,050 acres) | 45°31′N 74°16′W / 45.517°N 74.267°W |
| Corossol Island [fr] | 1937 | 413 ha (1,020 acres) | 50°05′N 66°25′W / 50.083°N 66.417°W |
| Boatswain Bay | 1941 | 17,900 ha (44,000 acres) | |
| Philipsburg [fr] | 1955 | 525 ha (1,300 acres) | |
| Mont Saint-Hilaire | 1960 | 955 ha (2,360 acres) | 45°33′N 73°09′W / 45.550°N 73.150°W |
| Cap-Saint-Ignace [fr] | 1972 | 133 ha (330 acres) | 47°02′30″N 70°28′30″W / 47.04167°N 70.47500°W |
| Îles de la Paix [fr] | 1972 | 1,115 ha (2,760 acres) | 45°21′N 73°50′W / 45.350°N 73.833°W |
| Nicolet [fr] | 1982 | 2,835 ha (7,010 acres) | 46°12′N 72°40′W / 46.200°N 72.667°W |
| Couvée Islands [fr] | 1986 | 17 ha (42 acres) | 45°29′N 73°31′W / 45.483°N 73.517°W |
| L'Isle-Verte [fr] | 1986 | 303 ha (750 acres) | 48°01′N 69°21′W / 48.017°N 69.350°W |
| L'Islet [fr] | 1986 | 64 ha (160 acres) | 47°08′00″N 70°22′30″W / 47.13333°N 70.37500°W |
| Montmagny [fr] | 1986 | 80 ha (200 acres) | 46°59′30″N 70°33′30″W / 46.99167°N 70.55833°W |
| Saint-Omer [fr] | 1986 | 64.6 ha (160 acres) | 48°06′30″N 66°14′00″W / 48.10833°N 66.23333°W |
| Saint-Vallier [fr] | 1986 | 405 ha (1,000 acres) | 46°53′30″N 70°51′00″W / 46.89167°N 70.85000°W |
| Trois-Saumons [fr] | 1986 | 222 ha (550 acres) | 47°09′30″N 70°20′00″W / 47.15833°N 70.33333°W |
| Gros Mécatina [fr] | 1996 | 2,310 ha (5,700 acres) |
Bird Sanctuaries on Prince Edward Island
There is one Migratory Bird Sanctuary on Prince Edward Island. This sanctuary helps protect birds in the smallest Canadian province.
| Name | Year Created | Area (hectares) |
|---|---|---|
| Black Pond | 1936 | 130 ha (320 acres) |
Bird Sanctuaries in Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan has fifteen Migratory Bird Sanctuaries. Many of these are located around lakes, which are vital for waterfowl.
| Name | Year Created | Area (hectares) |
|---|---|---|
| Last Mountain Lake Bird Sanctuary | 1887 | 4,736 ha (11,700 acres) |
| Sutherland | 1924 | 130 ha (320 acres) |
| Basin and Middle Lakes | 1925 | 8,720 ha (21,500 acres) |
| Indian Head | 1925 | 32 ha (79 acres) |
| Lenore Lake | 1925 | 8,830 ha (21,800 acres) |
| Old Wives Lake | 1925 | 26,060 ha (64,400 acres) |
| Redberry Lake | 1925 | 6,395 ha (15,800 acres) |
| Duncairn Reservoir | 1948 | 1,546 ha (3,820 acres) |
| Murray Lake | 1948 | 1,165 ha (2,880 acres) |
| Scentgrass Lake | 1948 | 633 ha (1,560 acres) |
| Upper Rousay Lake | 1948 | 518 ha (1,280 acres) |
| Val Marie Reservoir | 1948 | 505 ha (1,250 acres) |
| Neely Lake | 1952 | 809 ha (2,000 acres) |
| Opuntia Lake | 1952 | 1,395 ha (3,450 acres) |
| Wascana Lake | 1956 | 104 ha (260 acres) |
Bird Sanctuaries in the Northwest Territories
There are five Migratory Bird Sanctuaries in the Northwest Territories. These vast northern areas are crucial for many Arctic bird species.
| Name | Year Created | Area (hectares) |
|---|---|---|
| Anderson River Delta | 1961 | 118,417 ha (292,610 acres) |
| Banks Island No. 1 | 1961 | 2,019,997 ha (4,991,520 acres) |
| Banks Island No. 2 | 1961 | 14,302 ha (35,340 acres) |
| Cape Parry | 1961 | 227 ha (560 acres) |
| Kendall Island | 1961 | 61,241 ha (151,330 acres) |
Nunavut has eleven Migratory Bird Sanctuaries. These large sanctuaries protect huge numbers of birds that breed in the Canadian Arctic.
| Name | Year Created | Area (hectares) |
|---|---|---|
| Hannah Bay | 1939 | 29,500 ha (73,000 acres) |
| Akimiski Island | 1941 | 336,700 ha (832,000 acres) |
| Boatswain Bay | 1941 | 17,900 ha (44,000 acres) |
| Dewey Soper | 1957 | 793,000 ha (1,960,000 acres) |
| East Bay | 1959 | 113,800 ha (281,000 acres) |
| Harry Gibbons | 1959 | 122,400 ha (302,000 acres) |
| McConnell River | 1960 | 33,400 ha (83,000 acres) |
| Queen Maud Gulf | 1961 | 6,176,500 ha (15,262,000 acres) |
| Bylot Island | 1965 | 1,263,500 ha (3,122,000 acres) |
| Seymour Island | 1975 | 2,800 ha (6,900 acres) |
| Prince Leopold Island | 1992 | 31,100 ha (77,000 acres) |
Bird Sanctuaries in Yukon
There are no Migratory Bird Sanctuaries in the Yukon Territory.
More About Protected Areas
- List of National Wildlife Areas in Canada
- List of Canadian protected areas
