Over 360 species of birds have been spotted throughout the Bay of Fundy region, including various endangered species like the peregrine falcon and the piping plover. The Bay of Fundy is a preferred destination for a lot of birdwatchers, especially during migration season, because of its unique location along the Atlantic Flyway. Biologists have computed that between two and three million birds migrate along the Atlantic Flyway each year; three-quarters of which will rest in the Fundy region, making it the most vital stopping point along the entire Eastern seaboard.
Mary’s Point Bird Sanctuary – located along the Fundy coast in Albert County, New Brunswick between Fundy National Park and the popular Hopewell Rocks – is one of the prime spots along the Bay for spotting shorebirds, especially the semipalmated sandpiper.
Hundreds of thousands of semipalmated sandpipers stop in Fundy every summer as part of their migration from their Arctic breeding areas to their winter home of South America. Why do they stop here specifically? Well, quite simply they come here to get fat. The birds follow the tide line as it advances and recedes. During high tide the sandpipers roost but as the Fundy tide recedes, these little birds race from one hole to the next. Using sight and their relatively long bills, each sandpiper devours between 9600-23000 mud shrimp every single tide cycle. During their stay in the Bay of Fundy region, the sandpipers will double their regular weight of about 20 grams to increase their fat reserves to finish the remaining 4000km of their migration, nonstop!
In addition to Mary’s Point, these sandpipers have shown preference for Grande-Anse, Starrs Point and Evangeline Beach. The first semipalmated sandpipers often don’t arrive in Fundy until mid-July.
Another favourite bird sighting in the Bay of Fundy is the Atlantic Puffin. Located nearer the mouth of the Bay, Machias Seal Island is the temporary home to not only nesting puffins but also nesting arctic and common terns and razorbills. Access to this small island is limited and landing is done at your own risk as the shore can be quite slippery and uneven. The refuge is guarded by the Canadian Wildlife Service.
The Bay of Fundy is a cool place for bird watchers. And while you are there, you may as well check out the world famous Bay of Fundy tides!
Posted in Exotic Birds | 
Tags: atlantic puffin, Bay of Fundy, Mary's Point Bird Sanctuary, semipalmated sandpiper