Baie des Rochers (QC093)

Baie des Rochers (QC093)

Saint-Siméon, Québec

Site Description

Baie des Rochers is located on the north shore of the St. Lawrence Upper Estuary, twelve kilometers north of Saint-Siméon. This essentially marine IBA encompasses 6 kilometers of coast between Cap du Nid aux Corbeaux, to the north, and Anse aux Framboises, to the south, and it extends another 2.5 kilometers offshore. The Baie des Rochers, extending 1.5 kilometers inland, is located in the northern portion of the IBA. In the center of the bay lies a wooded island with rocky shores and mudflats that are exposed at low tide. The different areas of the bay, i.e. the Baie des Rochers River, the coniferous forest south of the bay, and the Anse de Sable beach, can be explored using a network of hiking trails and lookouts. The municipal pier is the preferred access point to the St. Lawrence River for users of small craft. Overlooking the St. Lawrence River, the IBA's southern portion is relatively uninhabited and exhibits a landscape that is typical of the Charlevoix region. The IBA is within the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park.

Birds

Barrow's Goldeneye, a marine duck designated as a species of special concern in Canada, is found in significant numbers in the IBA. From December to April, a few hundred individuals overwinter in the ice-free waters of the bay. Baie des Rochers is the second most important wintering site for the eastern North American population of Barrow's Goldeneye.

IBA Criteria Habitats Land Uses Potential or Ongoing Threats Conservation Status

• Barrow's Goldeneye500 (max.)