Île aux Perroquets

BPQ’s Oldest Sanctuary

Located at the northern tip of Quebec’s Lower North Shore, this island off Blanc-Sablon acquired in June of 1937 is the society’s oldest sanctuary.

The island is named after the sizeable Atlantic Puffin colony found there and which gave the island its name. Atlantic Puffins nest in burrows dug into the sod. Lower North Shore seabird colonies such as this one have been traditionally threatened by poaching of eggs, which is on the decrease due to educational efforts.

The island holds one of the largest Atlantic Puffin colonies on the eastern seaboard of North America and has been designated as a “Site of International Importance”

The site is administered under:

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 is restricted as much by its remote location and difficult tides and currents as it is by our preference.

We ask that anyone thinking of landing there contact us in advance.

Download this BPQ Newsletter article about Île aux Perroquets and its birds written by past BPQ President Richard Gregson.

The following four pictures were shared with us by our friends at QLF and taken on the island during 2015 when an Environment Canada five year census of bird populations was performed.

Ile-aux-Perroquets, Refuge d’oiseaux migrateurs de la Baie-de-Brador

Below is a gallery of additional photographs showing some of the characteristics of the island. Click on any of the thumbnails to open a full size slide show.