in Context the SCotian Shelf - COINAtlantic

in the offshore nest in the region; however, Sable
Island has been designated a Migratory Bird Sancutary
and is an important tern nesting area. The
endangered Roseate Terns nests on the island as
do Common and Arctic Terns.
The most abundant seabirds on the Scotian Shelf
are terns and large gulls (Gaston et al. 2009).
The eastern Scotian Shelf has high numbers
of wintering Dovekie, Sooty Shearwaters and
Greater Shearwaters (Brown 1988, Zwanenburg
et al. 2006). The area generally marks the southern
wintering range for species like the Thickbilled
Murre, Common Murre, Atlantic Puffin,
Northern Fulmar, and Glaucous and Iceland gulls
(Zwanenburg et al. 2006), although there are a
few breeding colonies of Atlantic Puffins in the
region (Lock et al. 1994). During the spring and
fall migrations, the shelf also lies on the flyway
for many species, including birds that nest along
Nova Scotia’s coasts as well as those that nest
much farther north (Lock et al. 1994). During the
summer, Leach’s Storm Petrels nest on coastal
islands but range widely offshore. The Wilson’s
storm petrel can also be found in the region
from the summer (southern hemisphere winter),
migrating from its southern hemisphere breeding
grounds (Lock et al. 1994), as can the Greater
and Sooty Shearwaters.
In 2005, the Canadian Wildlife Service began
a renewed effort to survey birds in the marine
waters of Atlantic Canada (Gjerdrum et al. 2008).
Results from these surveys should improve the
understanding of seabird distribution on the shelf
and slope. More information on seabirds on the
Scotian Shelf and slope can be found in Brown
(1986); Lock et al. (1994); Huettman (2000);
Breeze et al. (2002); and Gaston et al. (2009).
http://coinatlantic.ca/index.php/state-of-the-scotian-shelf
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