Coats Island/Cape Pembroke (11266)
Canada, North America
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2008
National site name: Coats Island/Cape Pembroke
Central coordinates: Latitude: 62.9512, Longitude: -81.9998
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 215
Area of KBA (km2): 2118.68328
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Coats Island is located approximately 75 km southeast of Southampton Island in northern Hudson Bay. The majority of the island is low-lying and flat, with large areas of sedge tundra, tundra ponds, and raised beaches. The bedrock in this area is predominantly limestone. At the northeastern tip of the island, a small, elevated outcrop of Precambrian gneiss occurs at Cape Pembroke. The cliffs at the Cape rise to an elevation of 215 m above sea level, and provide nesting habitat for colonial seabirds.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that was identified using previously established criteria and thresholds for the identification of Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) and for which available data indicate that it does not meet global KBA criteria and thresholds set out in the Global Standard.
Additional biodiversity: Two Thick-billed Murre colonies, are located on cliffs approximately 5 km west of Cape Pembroke. In 1990, the breeding population was estimated to be about 30,000 pairs (approximately 2% of the eastern Canada population). There is some evidence that the population at this colony has increased since 1972. In addition to the Thick-billed Murres, Black Guillemots, Peregrine Falcons (ssp. tundrius, nationally vulnerable), and Glaucous Gulls also nest in the immediate vicinity of the colony. The sedge lowlands on the northern and western parts of Coats Island support several tundra-nesting species, including King Eiders, Sabine's gulls, Canada Geese, Purple Sandpipers and Pectoral Sandpipers. Although no density or population estimates have been completed, casual investigations suggest that the area contains significant populations of these species. Additional field research is needed.
Delineation rationale: Type 1 marine IBA: suitable for the seaward extension approach.
Habitats
Land use: nature conservation and research | not utilised
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | 33 | |
| Marine Neritic | 33 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 33 |