More than 360 species of birds have been seen throughout the Bay of Fundy area, including various rare animals like the peregrine falcon and the piping plover. Fundy is a preferred location for a lot of birdwatchers, especially during migration season, because of its unique location along the Atlantic Flyway. It's computed that between two and three million birds fly along the Atlantic Flyway annually; 75% of those birds land in the Fundy area, making it the most important stopping point along the entire Eastern seaboard.
Mary's Point Bird Sanctuary - situated along the Fundy shores in Albert County, New Brunswick between Fundy National Park and the famous Hopewell Rocks - is one of the prime places along the Bay for viewing shorebirds, particularly the semipalmated sandpiper.
Many thousands of semipalmated sandpipers land in Fundy each and every summer as part of their migration from their Arctic breeding zones to their winter home of South America. Why do they stop here specifically? Well, they come here to become fat. The birds follow the tide line as it advances and recedes. During high tide the sandpipers roost but when the Fundy tide start to recede, these tiny birds race from one hole to the next. Using sight and their relatively long bills, each sandpiper will eat between 9600-23000 mud shrimp every tide cycle. During their stay in the Bay of Fundy region, the sandpipers will double their weight of roughly 20 grams in order to build up their fat reserves to finish the remaining 4000km of their migration, non-stop!
As well as Mary's Point, these sandpipers have also shown preference for Grande-Anse, Starrs Point and Evangeline Beach. The first semipalmated sandpipers generally do not arrive in Fundy till mid-July.
Another favourite bird seen in the Bay of Fundy is the Atlantic Puffin. Located nearer the mouth of the Bay, Machias Seal Island is the temporary home to not only nesting puffins but also nesting arctic and common terns and razorbills. Access to this tiny island is limited and landing is done at your own risk as the shoreline can be quite slippery and uneven. The sanctuary is protected by the Canadian Wildlife Service.
Mary's Point Bird Sanctuary - situated along the Fundy shores in Albert County, New Brunswick between Fundy National Park and the famous Hopewell Rocks - is one of the prime places along the Bay for viewing shorebirds, particularly the semipalmated sandpiper.
Many thousands of semipalmated sandpipers land in Fundy each and every summer as part of their migration from their Arctic breeding zones to their winter home of South America. Why do they stop here specifically? Well, they come here to become fat. The birds follow the tide line as it advances and recedes. During high tide the sandpipers roost but when the Fundy tide start to recede, these tiny birds race from one hole to the next. Using sight and their relatively long bills, each sandpiper will eat between 9600-23000 mud shrimp every tide cycle. During their stay in the Bay of Fundy region, the sandpipers will double their weight of roughly 20 grams in order to build up their fat reserves to finish the remaining 4000km of their migration, non-stop!
As well as Mary's Point, these sandpipers have also shown preference for Grande-Anse, Starrs Point and Evangeline Beach. The first semipalmated sandpipers generally do not arrive in Fundy till mid-July.
Another favourite bird seen in the Bay of Fundy is the Atlantic Puffin. Located nearer the mouth of the Bay, Machias Seal Island is the temporary home to not only nesting puffins but also nesting arctic and common terns and razorbills. Access to this tiny island is limited and landing is done at your own risk as the shoreline can be quite slippery and uneven. The sanctuary is protected by the Canadian Wildlife Service.
About the Author:
As you can see the Bay of Fundy is a great place for bird watchers. And while you're there, you also get to see the world-famous Bay of Fundy tides!
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