Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
wards of two million birds stop here annually. On nearby beaches, the endangered piping
plover tries to hold its own against the trespass of invading sunbathers and beach walkers
- please respect signs that warn you of this bird's home.
On Cape Breton Island and in Newfoundland and Labrador you're very likely to see
bald eagles, Canada's largest bird of prey and the only eagle exclusive to North America.
The birds can weigh up to 6.8kg (females are larger than males) and the wing span is
around 2m. Besides their sheer size, you'll know them when you see them thanks to their
distinctive white heads and brown bodies. Keep an eye out for their massive nests, often
high in the trees along the coast, that weigh around 2 tons.
Fish
More than any other animal, fish have placed Atlantic Canada on the map, in particular
the northern cod. With the collapse of the great cod fishery, other species such as halibut,
mackerel, haddock and herring have grown in economic importance. In the region's
many lakes and rivers, fisherfolk seek out trout, bass, salmon and river herring (with the
quaint name alewives).
THE GRAND BANKS
Banks are a funny name for a shallow area, but in the case of the Grand Banks off
Newfoundland's southeast coast it's no laughing matter. Until recently this was
considered the greatest site in the world for ocean fish and the animals that came
to feed on them. Even today, with the fish nearly hunted out, millions of seabirds
and uncounted whales come to feed in the rich waters. This area is incredibly pro-
ductive because the continental shelf off the coast of Newfoundland sticks out like
a thumb to intercept the south-flowing waters of the frigid Labrador Current right
at the point where they mingle with the warm north-flowing waters of the Gulf
Stream. The mix of warmth and nutrient-rich Arctic waters creates an explosion of
plankton that feeds everything from the smallest fish to the biggest whale. And be-
cause the shallow waters allow sunlight to penetrate to the ocean floor, the food
chain is active at all depths.
Insects
Although it is easy to focus on the region's showiest animals, we cannot ignore the one
that is smallest but not least in Atlantic Canada. It has been said that the diminutive black
fly has single-handedly maintained the wild splendor of Labrador. This may sound like
an exaggeration until you step foot onto the shore in midsummer and are blanketed in in-
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