| IBA |
Bay du Nord Wilderness Reserve and Middle Ridge Wildlife Reserve
St. Alban's, Newfoundland |
| Site Summary |
| NF018 |
Latitude
Longitude |
48.120° N
54.972° W |
Elevation
Size |
30 - 378 m
3,804.04 km² |
Habitats:
coniferous forest (boreal/alpine), rivers/streams, bog, scree/boulders, rocky flats & barrens
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Land Use:
Nature conservation and research, Hunting, Tourism/recreation, Urban/industrial/transport
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Potential or ongoing Threats:
Extraction industry, Hunting, Recreation/tourism
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| IBA Criteria: Nationally Significant: Restricted Range Species |
| Conservation status: Wildlife Reserve (national), Wilderness Reserve |
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Site Description
Bay du Nord Wilderness Reserve and Middle Ridge Wildlife Reserve are two large inland reserves in the southeastern part of Newfoundland. The area is an essentially untouched, upland plateau about 300 m in elevation, characterized by extensive barrens, kalmia heaths, bogs and fens. The Tolt and Mount Sylvester are two rocky outcrops that protrude out of the plateau. The river valleys are forested with Balsam Fir, or in the Terra Nova and Northwest River valleys, with Black Spruce, White Birch and Trembling Aspen. The largest Caribou herd in insular Newfoundland (15,000 animals) uses large sections of these reserves. Calving takes place in the southeastern portion of Bay du Nord W.R. and in most of Middle Ridge W.R., while two-thirds of Bay du Nord is used as a wintering ground.
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Birds
Rock Ptarmigan are thought to breed in small numbers in the higher parts of the Bay du Nord Middle Ridge area. The Newfoundland subspecies of Rock Ptarmigan, spp. welchi is a restricted-range subspecies as defined by the IBA program, because its range is smaller than 50,000km². Willow Ptarmigan, on the other hand, are an abundant resident species. Several species of waterfowl are common breeders in the lakes and wetlands: Canada Goose, American Black Duck, Green-winged Teal, Common Goldeneye and Common Merganser are some examples. A Harlequin Duck with young was seen on Bay du Nord River in 1998, significantly further south in Newfoundland than other breeding locations. Further studies would show whether more of this nationally endangered species are present.
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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
Bay du Nord and Middle Ridge are essentially unchanged by any human activity. Lack of road access helps to keep the area in its undisturbed state. Although protected from mineral exploration, logging, and motorized wheeled vehicles, the hunting of Caribou, Moose, waterfowl and Willow Ptarmigan is allowed in the Bay du Nord section. In the Middle Ridge Wildlife Reserve, mineral exploration is permitted, but in recent years there has been little of this sort of activity. The Newfoundland Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, Park and Natural Areas Division is hoping to add this section to the Bay du Nord Wilderness Reserve. Wilderness canoeing is a favourite activity of visitors to the park, but even this occurs infrequently because of the difficult access. The potential exists for conflict between canoeists and Harlequin Duck broods if this species is found to breed regularly in the reserve and if canoe-tripping becomes more common in the reserves.
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