McConnell River Migratory Bird Sanctuary facts for kids
Quick facts for kids McConnell River Migratory Bird Sanctuary |
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IUCN Category Ia (Strict Nature Reserve)
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| Nearest city | Arviat |
| Area | 328 square kilometres (127 sq mi) |
| Established | 1960 |
| Official name: McConnell River | |
| Designated: | 24 May 1982 |
| Reference #: | 248 |
The McConnell River Migratory Bird Sanctuary is a special protected area in Nunavut, Canada. It's located in the Kivalliq Region, right on the west coast of Hudson Bay. This sanctuary is a huge place, covering about 32,800 hectares (that's like 328 square kilometers!). It's about 27 kilometers south of a town called Arviat.
This important area gets its name from the McConnell River, which flows into Hudson Bay. The sanctuary is a vital home and breeding ground for many types of geese. You can find cackling gooses, lesser snow gooses, Ross's gooses, and Canada gooses here.
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About the McConnell River Sanctuary
The McConnell River Migratory Bird Sanctuary was created in 1960. It was set up under special rules called the Migratory Bird Sanctuary Regulations. These rules come from an older law, the Migratory Birds Convention Act of 1917.
Who Owns This Land?
Even though it's a protected area, the land where the sanctuary is located is actually owned by the Inuit people of Nunavut. This means the local Indigenous community has a special connection and responsibility to this important place.
A Ramsar Site
The sanctuary also has another special title: it's a Ramsar site. It received this honor on May 24, 1982. Being a Ramsar site means it's recognized internationally as a wetland of great importance. It was Canada's 14th site to be given this special designation.
What is a Ramsar Site?
The Ramsar Convention is an international agreement that focuses on protecting wetlands. Wetlands are areas like marshes, bogs, and shallow lakes. They are super important because they provide homes for many plants and animals, especially birds. When a place is named a Ramsar site, it means countries around the world agree to help protect it.
Why is This Sanctuary Important for Birds?
The McConnell River area is a critical spot for many types of geese. It's not just a place they visit; it's where they come to have their babies!
A Breeding Ground
Many geese travel long distances to reach this sanctuary. They come here to nest and raise their young because the environment is safe and has plenty of food. This makes the sanctuary a busy and noisy place during the spring and summer months.
- Cackling Geese: These are smaller geese that look a lot like Canada geese.
- Lesser Snow Geese: You might see huge flocks of these white geese.
- Ross's Geese: These are even smaller white geese, often found with snow geese.
- Canada Geese: These are the most common geese, known for their black necks and white chinstraps.
The sanctuary provides the perfect habitat for these birds to lay their eggs and protect their goslings (baby geese) until they are old enough to fly.
