Digges Sound (11263)
Canada, North America
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2008
National site name: Digges Sound
Central coordinates: Latitude: 62.5512, Longitude: -77.5797
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 300
Area of KBA (km2): 565.05887
Protected area coverage (%): 52.53
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Digges Sound is located near the northern tip of the Ungava Peninsula (northeastern Hudson Bay) between Digges Islands and Cape Wolstenhome. The Sound is lined by granite cliffs that range in height up to nearly 200 m on East Digges Island and to a height of over 300 m along the mainland. In all, there are approximately 4 km of cliffs on East Digges Island and nearly 8 km of cliffs along the Quebec shoreline. The rock is mostly granitic schist, which fractures, forming stacks and ledges.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs.
Additional biodiversity: Digges Sound is significant for the large numbers of Thick-billed Murres that nest on its cliffs. Colonies are located at both East Digges Island and Cape Wolstenhome. In 1980, the size of the East Digges colony was estimated to be about 180,000 breeding pairs; the Cape Wolstenhome colony was estimated to be somewhat smaller at about 107,000 breeding pairs. The East Digges colonies were revisited in 1990 and again in 1992; there was no evidence of a marked change in population. The total number of Thick-billed Murres nesting along Digges Sound is roughly 287,000 breeding pairs. This represents approximately 2.6% of the global, 4.4% of the North Atlantic, and almost 20% of the eastern Canada Thick-billed Murre population. In addition to Thick-billed Murres, approximately 860 pairs of Black Guillemots nest on islands in Digges Sound. Approximately 350 pairs of Iceland Gulls (Kumlien's form) are also present in the area. A small number of Atlantic Puffins nest in a colony on Dome Island to the south of West Digges Island.
Delineation rationale: 2011-06-06 (BL Secretariat): site area updated from 1200 ha to 55000 ha, following GIS analysis of site polygon by Bird Studies Canada (J. Moore & S. Marquez in litt. 2009). Type 1 marine IBA: suitable for the seaward extension approach to marine IBAs.
Habitats
Land use: not utilised
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Neritic | 50 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 50 |