Île aux Perroquets

BPQ’s Oldest Sanctuary

Île aux Perroquets, one of the largest Atlantic Puffin colonies on the eastern seaboard of North America, lies at the northern tip of Quebec’s lower north shore, off Blanc-Sablon.

Poaching, the disturbance of breeding birds and the traditional practice of egg-collecting resulted in the decline of Lower North Shore seabird colonies during the 1900s. Significant puffin population losses led to the inclusion of Île aux Perroquets as part of Canada’s Brador Bay Migratory Bird Sanctuary in 1925. In 1937, BPQ purchased the island to further safeguard the habitat, recognized as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area.

Since 1925, the Canadian Wildlife Service has conducted a census of the breeding seabirds on the island about every 5 years. In the 2015 survey, 17,700 Atlantic Puffins, 8,800 Razorbills and over 2,000 Common Murres were recorded on the island. Large numbers of sea ducks were also observed in nearby waters.

The site is administered under the following acts and regulations:

Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 (1994, c.22; SOR/96-458 to 464 and SI/96-90 to 92, 30 October 1996).
Canada Wildlife Act (R.S. (1985) c. W-9, sect. 1; 1994, c. 23, sect. 2(F); SOR/94-684, 7 November 1994; SI/95-42, 5 April 1995)
Migratory Bird Sanctuary Regulations (C.R.C., c. 1036)

Access to Île aux Perroquets is restricted and approach to the site is challenging due to the remote location and difficult tides and currents.

We ask that anyone thinking of visiting the island contact us in advance.