Saint-Augustin Migratory Bird Sanctuary (11433)
Canada, North America
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2008
National site name: Saint-Augustin Migratory Bird Sanctuary
Central coordinates: Latitude: 51.1177, Longitude: -58.5493
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 7
Area of KBA (km2): 97.50348
Protected area coverage (%): 55.83
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The Saint-Augustin Migratory Bird Sanctuary, near the village of Saint-Augustin, in the Côte-Nord region of Québec, is a group of islands and rocks spread over 5,570 hectares along the south shore of Grande Passe Island, in the northeast section of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. About a dozen of these islands are over one kilometre long. Most of the site is composed of coastal marine areas, while the remainder is made up of rocky outcrops that are very typical of this region. Shrubby and grassy vegetation cover only about 20% of the area.
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: Seven species of birds breed on the Saint-Augustin Migratory Bird Sanctuary site: Herring Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Razorbill, Black Guillemot, Common Eider and Common Tern. Most of these species have been present since the start of surveys in 1925. Herring Gull numbers are globally significant, with 3,107 pairs being recorded in 1988. This is over 2% of the North American population. This bird is the most common breeder and is the only species that has been increasing in numbers at the site recently. From 1935 to 1960, the Common Eider population was between 900 and 1,500 adults, which was continentally significant. Since 1977 however, significant demographic changes have brought the species to a low of 12 individuals in 1988. Razorbill, Black Guillemot (10 birds in 1988, compared to 182 in 1950), Ring-billed Gull and Great Black-backed Gull have had higher populations in the past as well. The total number of seabirds detected at the last survey (1988) was 7,580 adults. Red-throated Loons have bred on the site, with a maximum of 22 breeding birds counted in 1940 and 1960; this is a high density considering the non-colonial nature of this bird. A pair of Caspian Tern possibly nested in 1976; this species is at risk in the Atlantic provinces.
Delineation rationale: 2011-06-06 (BL Secretariat): site area updated from 5600 ha to 9700 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: nature conservation and research | tourism/recreation
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | 25 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 25 | |
| Marine Neritic | 25 | |
| Shrubland | 25 |