A century of bird conservation in the North Shore

From Harrington Harbor to Blanc-Sablon, via Saint-Augustin, several refuges for sea birds on the North Shore blow their hundredth candle. If these conservation efforts have proven themselves since 1925, certain populations of birds have still been declined for the past five years.

In general, the total number of seabirds is up in the shelters of the North Shore. This is what Pier-Olivier Boudreault, the director of conservation at the company for nature and the parks of Quebec (Snap Québec), notes, at the microphone of the microphone of Hello the coast.

However, this increase in the population concerns only a few species, including the puffing monk, the small penguin and the eider at Duvet. Other sea birds are struggling to prosper, despite conservation efforts, according to Pierre-Olivier Boudreault.

Most species are either low or strong. There are even certain species, such as ass-seasy oceanitis, which it is believed to disappearwarns the director.

The total number of birds is increasing, but only three or four species benefit from it.

Protect eggs

The idea of creating refuges for sea birds on the North Shore dates back. It was in 1833 that the naturalist artist John James Audubon visited the region in schooner to list the sea birds, tells us Pier-Olivier Boudreault.

In his travel diaries, he emphasizes that egg harvest can threaten bird populationshe explains. It gave birth to these famous shelters of migratory birds.

The creation of these protected areas is an initiative of the federal government. Since their foundation, data on the populations of birds that have frequent this territory have been provided every five years. According to Mr. Boudreault, such a long sequence of data on bird population trends is exceptionally rare.

For Pier-Olivier Boudreault, human predation and disturbance are the two main problems for conservation. In order to promote the proper development of these birds, the conservation director offers local communities to avoid refuge areas.

You can’t go to these sites with dogs or firearms. It is necessary to respect the regulations and ensure that these shelters bear their names and remain small sanctuariesconcludes Pier-Olivier Boudreault.

According to an interview with Catherine Paquette