| IBA |
Salikuit Islands
Sanikluaq, Nunavut |
| Site Summary |
| NU032 |
Latitude
Longitude |
56.382° N
77.640° W |
Elevation
Size |
0 - 50 m
132.90 km² |
Habitats:
coastal cliffs/rocky shores (marine)
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Land Use:
Not Utilized (Natural Area)
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Potential or ongoing Threats:
Disturbance
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| IBA Criteria: Continentally Significant: Congregatory Species |
| Conservation status: |
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Site Description
The Salikuit Islands are located in eastern Hudson Bay mid way between the Belcher Islands and the Quebec coastline. Sanikiluaq (on the Belcher Islands) is located approximately 80 km to the west. They are an archipelago of 103 islands (about 12 that are between 50 and 500 ha and the remainder being smaller than 50 ha). The islands are mainly low-lying with bedrock and numerous cobble beaches, some of which connect the various islands. In general, the vegetation is sparse.
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Birds
During surveys completed in 1985, a total of 895 pairs of Common Eiders (ssp. sedentaria) was recorded on the Salikuit Islands. These islands have not been re-surveyed since that year, but given the discovery of a 75% decline (on average) in nesting eider populations around the Belcher Islands we can assume that the population on Salikuit Island has likely declined in about the same magnitude. Thus, there is likely about 225 pairs of Common Eiders present on the islands. This would represent about 2.5% of the current estimated population of the Hudson Bay Common Eider (ssp. sedentaria). Other species of colonial birds recorded nesting on the Salikuit Islands during the mid-1980s include Arctic Terns (220 pairs), Glaucous Gulls (180 pairs), and Herring Gulls (180 pairs). Around the Belchers, the 1997 surveys recorded declines in populations of these species as well.
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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
The Hudson Bay population of Common Eiders (ssp. sedentaria) is non-migratory, and winters within polynyas, such as those around the Belcher Islands, and along shore leads, such as the land-fast ice edge to the north of the Belcher Islands. There is speculation that the exceptionally cold winter of 1991-1992 resulted in the freeze-over of these polynyas and shoreleads that provided traditional wintering areas. Eiders subsequently starved when they were unable to access their marine foods.
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