| IBA |
Buchan Gulf
Eastern Baffin Island, Nunavut |
| Site Summary |
| NU069 |
Latitude
Longitude |
71.813° N
74.421° W |
Elevation
Size |
0 - 600 m
285.20 km² |
Habitats:
open sea, coastal cliffs/rocky shores (marine)
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Land Use:
Not Utilized (Natural Area)
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Potential or ongoing Threats:
Oil slicks
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| IBA Criteria: Globally Significant: Congregatory Species, Colonial Waterbirds/Seabird Concentrations |
| Conservation status: |
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Site Description
The Buchan Gulf is a long fiord on the northeastern coast of Baffin Island, about 200 km south of the settlement of Pond Inlet. The IBA is composed of two sections of coastal cliffs (The Mitres and The Bastions), which are located on the northern side of Buchan Gulf close to Baffin Bay. Together, The Mitres and The Bastions form a 22km-long stretch of steep coastal cliffs and rock pinnacles. The cliffs are comprised of hard Precambrian metamorphic rock that rises as much as 600 metres from the sea. The ledges are mostly bare rock, although grassy turf is present in a few locations.
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Birds
A large colony of Northern Fulmars nest along the cliffs of The Mitres and The Bastions. In 1973, approximately 25,000 pairs of Northern Fulmars were estimated to breed at this site. When the most recent census of the colony was completed in 1986, the same estimate was recorded. Nonetheless, fulmar colonies are difficult to survey, partly because they are on such high cliffs, and the numbers may still not be very accurate. If the numbers are correct, then this site supports about 2.4% of the estimated North American population, and as much as 8% of the estimated Canadian population of Northern Fulmars. These oceanic birds are present at this site from early April to late September. A single egg is laid on bare rock, or more rarely on the soil, after which both parents participate in incubation for at least a month and a half. Unlike some arctic seabirds and ducks that have precocial young that can leave the nest for the water shortly after hatching, the Northern Fulmar young develop for almost two months before flying away from the nest.
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IBA Criteria |
| Species↓ T | A | I |
Links |
Date |
Season |
Number |
G |
C |
N |
| Northern Fulmar |
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1973 - 1986 |
SU |
50,000 |
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✔ |
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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 isolated location of this colony serves to buffer it from most disturbances and threats. Nonetheless, because fulmars tend to nest in a few very large colonies, their population is concentrated and thus vulnerable to catastrophes like oil spills. Currently, shipping is at a low level and oil exploration activities are on hold in the vicinity of the site. This area was designated as an important site by the International Biological Programme (Region 9, #7-11) in the early 1970s. Although this designation does not provide the site with any specific protection, it does serve to emphasize the importance of the area. In the early 1990s, the site was also identified as a Key Migratory Bird Terrestrial Habitat site by the Canadian Wildlife Service.
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