| IBA |
Scott Inlet
Eastern Baffin Island, Nunavut |
| Site Summary |
| NU070 |
Latitude
Longitude |
71.081° N
71.099° W |
Elevation
Size |
0 - 365 m
369.62 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, Nationally Significant: Congregatory Species |
| Conservation status: |
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Site Description
Scott Inlet lies along the indented eastern coast of Baffin Island, about 120km northwest of the community of Clyde Inlet. The islands within the inlet, and the adjacent mainland areas, have topography that is steep and rugged; elevations often reach heights of over 1,500 metres and there are numerous ice-capped areas and extensive snowfields. Scott Island, which is situated within the entrance to the inlet, has steep cliffs that rise as much as 365 metres from the sea. Steep cliffs are also located to the south along the mainland coast, with a colony of Northern Fulmars being concentrated along this five-km stretch of coast. The cliffs are mostly bare with some grassy-turfed ledges. Beyond the inlet in Baffin Bay, White Whales and Narwhals are seen, and closer to shore, Walruses, Polar Bears, Harp and Ringed Seals have been observed.
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Birds
In 1973, a provisional estimate of 25,000 pairs of Northern Fulmars was recorded at the Scott Inlet colonies. In 1986, the population at the colony was reassessed and an estimate of 10,000 pairs was generated. Fulmar colonies are difficult to accurately census because the colonies are usually in isolated locations and the nest locations are often high up on a cliff and difficult to see. Although this is one of the smaller colonies of fulmars in arctic Canada, at 10,000 pairs it would contain about 3.2% of the Canadian population. With its location on steep, high coastal cliffs, the Scott Inlet colony is typical of the Canadian arctic nesting sites for Northern Fulmar. Breeding Glaucous Gulls can also be found scattered throughout the colony and on the southwest part of Scott Island. Upwards of 100 nesting pairs have been estimated, which may represent as much as 1% of the Canadian population.
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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 |
20,000 - 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 remote fulmar colonies of the eastern arctic are not likely to be threatened by human activity in the near future. Nonetheless, if their feeding areas became polluted with oil or other contaminants this could cause harm. This site, as with most of the Canadian fulmar colonies, is designated in the early 1970s as a site of significance under the International Biological Programme (Region 9, Site 7-8). Although this designation does not provide the site with any protection, it does emphasize the site's significance. The site has also been identified as a Key Migratory Bird Terrestrial Habitat Site by the Canadian Wildlife Service.
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