| IBA |
Île a Calculot
Havre-Saint-Pierre, Québec |
| Site Summary |
| QC149 |
Latitude
Longitude |
50.198° N
63.614° W |
Elevation
Size |
0 - 15 m
12.66 km² |
Habitats:
native grassland, cliffs/rocky shores (inland)
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Land Use:
Nature conservation and research
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Potential or ongoing Threats:
Disturbance, Hunting, Oil slicks
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| IBA Criteria: Globally Significant: Congregatory Species, Nationally Significant: Colonial Waterbird/Seabird Concentrations |
| Conservation status: IBA Conservation Plan written/being written |
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Site Description
Île à Calculot is part of the Mingan Archipelago, and is located approximately 4 km south of the town of Havre-St-Pierre, on the north shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The IBA encompasses the land of Île à Calculot, and water (but not land on other islands) in a two km radius circle, which has its centre point in the middle of the island. Île à Calculot is a small, grassy island that is surrounded by rocky reefs. The island was named after the puffins (calculot) that bred here historically. A larger island, Île du Havre lies between Havre-St-Pierre and Île à Calculot. The islands of the Mingan archipelago are composed of grey limestone.
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Birds
Île à Calculot is a globally significant site for breeding Common Terns, and a nationally significant site for colonial waterbirds. The density of nesting gulls and terns is so high that during the breeding season the entire surface of the island is covered with nests.About 15% of the many hundreds of terns nesting on the island, are estimated to be Arctic Terns, while the remainder are Common Terns. Thus, approximately 1% of the North American Common Tern population nests here. The Ring-billed Gull is the most abundant species on the island. In 1998, 3,745 nesting pairs were recorded. The rare Black-headed Gull occurs regularly on the island and the species has been a confirmed breeder in two years (1988 and 1998). Other gull species that nest on the island in small numbers include Herring Gull and Great Black-backed Gull. In total, six colonial waterbirds nest on Île à Calculot. In winter, thousands of wintering Common Eiders can be found in the waters around the Mingan Islands (IBA #QC159). These eiders breed along the Labrador coast and Ungava Bay and move south in winter.
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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
Île à Calculot is part of the Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve. Access to the island is not permitted during the breeding season, but disturbance of birds by boaters remains a threat. Despite strict park rules, poaching of seabird and waterfowl eggs is sometimes a problem. The St. Lawrence is one of the most important and used waterway in North America, and as a result is very susceptible to oil spills.
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