| IBA |
Table Bay
Cartwright, Labrador |
| Site Summary |
| LB027 |
Latitude
Longitude |
53.664° N
56.392° W |
Elevation
Size |
0 - 100 m
305.79 km² |
Habitats:
coniferous forest (boreal/alpine), open sea, inlets/coastal features (marine), coastal cliffs/rocky shores (marine), cliffs/rocky shores (inland)
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Land Use:
Nature conservation and research, Fisheries/aquaculture, Hunting
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Potential or ongoing Threats:
Egg-collecting, Interactions with native species/disease, Oil slicks
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| IBA Criteria: Continentally Significant: Congregatory Species |
| Conservation status: IBA Conservation Plan written/being written |
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Site Description
Table Bay is located on the southcentral Labrador coast about 35 km east of Cartwright. The site extends from Cape North (at the northern head of Table Bay) to Cape Greep, which is located about 30 km to the southwest. Within the bay, there are numerous islands, islets, and shoals. The larger islands include Collingham, Devils Lookout, Quakers Hat, Entry Island, and Ledge Island. The offshore islands are mostly rock, with heath-type shrubs and scattered grasses. The islands closer to shore, like Ledge Island, are vegetated with stunted coniferous forest.
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Birds
In the early 1980s, 2,459 pairs of nesting Common Eiders were recorded on the offshore islands in Table Bay. Table Bay is generally recognized as a zone of overlap between the northern borealis and more southern dresseri subspecies of Common Eider. Many of the birds in Table Bay cannot be identified as being either borealis or dresseri because of overlapping morphological characteristics. The nesting population at this site, however, exceeds the combined 1% threshold for both subspecies. The largest colonies occur on three unnamed islands: two km east of Suglo Point 675 pairs; two km south of Cape Greep 395 pairs; and three km east of Cape Greep 370 pairs. Occasionally a Red Fox, Arctic Fox or Polar Bear will spend time on these islands, disrupting the breeding birds for the year. In addition to the nesting Common Eiders, large numbers of moulting scoters utilize Table Bay. In early August 1998, the Canadian Wildlife Service recorded 1,375 scoters (mostly Surf Scoters) during aerial surveys. Devils Lookout Island, which is in the southern portion of Table Bay, has long been known as a site for nesting Peregrine Falcons (ssp, anatum), with at least one pair being present. In 1999, the anatum ssp. was downgraded from nationally endangered to nationally threatened as a result of the recovery of populations throughout its breeding range.
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IBA Criteria |
| Species↓ T | A | I |
Links |
Date |
Season |
Number |
G |
C |
N |
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Note: species shown in bold indicate that the maximum number exceeds at least one of the IBA thresholds (sub-regional, regional or global). The site may still not qualify for that level of IBA if the maximum number reflects an exceptional or historical occurrence.
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Conservation Issues
Hunting, both legal and illegal, is a common practice in the Table Bay area. However, Canada Geese and American Black Ducks are the main species targeted. Egg-collecting was formerly a common practice, but this activity has been reduced in recent years. Both the Newfoundland Wildlife Division and the Table Bay Eider Duck Conservation Committee are active with nesting habitat enhancement programs and regular patrols of the eider nesting colonies during the breeding season. The main route for coastal ferry and freighter shipping to Goose Bay and Cartwright is 5 to 15 km north and east of Table Bay. A ship-related oil spill in this area could threaten the nesting colonies.
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