Cape St. Mary's (11191)
Canada, North America
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1d, D1a
Year of last assessment: 2022
National site name: Cape St. Mary's
Central coordinates: Latitude: 46.8200, Longitude: -54.2000
System: marine, terrestrial, freshwater
Elevation (m): 0 to 130
Area of KBA (km2): 329.37516
Protected area coverage (%): 19.67
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Cape St. Mary’s is located on the southwestern tip of the Avalon Peninsula at the entrance to Placentia Bay. The cliffs along the mainland rise to approximately 130 m above sea level, with grassy barrens being present on top. An isolated sea stack (Bird Rock) is located offshore. Colonial seabirds nest along approximately 4 km of mainland cliff and on the isolated stack. The site extends east and southwards out of the ecological reserve to include: Bull Island Point, the small islets of Bull, Cow and Calf islets, St. Mary’s Keys (Cays), and Lance Point.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: Cape St. Mary's was initially identified as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area. Recent analysis shows that this site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of global significance for one threatened bird species (Black-legged Kittiwake) and one aggregating bird species (Northern Gannet). In addition to global significant bird species, this site also supports nationally significant populations of one canadian threatened bird species (Piping Plover) and two aggregating bird species (Black-legged Kittiwake and Dovekie).
Manageability of the site: Cape St. Mary's intersects or contains one protected areas consisting of Cape St. Mary's Ecological Reserve managed by Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Delineation rationale: Cape St. Marys KBA extends east and southwards out of the ecological reserve to include : Bull Island Point, the small islets of Bull, Cow and Calf islets, St. Marys Keys (Cays), and Lance Point.
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 50 |
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biological resource use | Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources | Ongoing | |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Ongoing | ||
| Other options | Other threat | Ongoing | |
| Pollution | Industrial & military effluents | Ongoing |