Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area

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Overview

Since 1969, the wildlife area has witnessed a spectacular increase in the Greater Snow Goose population. It serves as a staging area for more than 800 000 Greater Snow Geese on their twice-yearly journeys between the Atlantic Coast and the Far North. The population was only about 3 000 birds at the beginning of the century, and Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area was created to ensure the survival of the species.

During the fall migration, the entire world population of Greater Snow Geese stops off in the vicinity, where it feeds on American bulrush rhizomes in the marsh and grain in the fields.

Birds

Notable Species

In the fall, Cap Tourmente is the most important sector in the entire St. Lawrence Corridor for dabbling ducks. In addition to waterfowl, many species such as warblers and other songbirds are concentrated in the spring and fall along the narrow corridor formed by the River and the Cap Tourmente escarpment. A birder's outing at these times of the year may be graced with sightings of rare or unexpected species, such as the Ross's Goose, Greater White-fronted Goose, Pink-footed Goose, Bean Goose or Barnacle Goose, Ruff, Boreal Owl, Western Kingbird and Townsend's Solitaire.

Of the 280 species that have been sighted in the wildlife area, about 100 are recognized as local breeders and eight are on the list of species at risk: the Common Barn Owl, Least Bittern, Loggerhead Shrike and Peregrine Falcon. Warblers, the gems of the bird world, are represented by 18 breeding species. Among these, the most familiar are the Black-throated Green Warbler, Ovenbird, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Common Yellowthroat and the incomparable American Redstart.

Despite the importance of the Red-winged Blackbird, Swamp Sparrow, Common Snipe and American Black Duck in the coastal marsh, the Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow is worthy of special attention as Cap Tourmente is one of its few breeding sites on the north shore of the St. Lawrence.

With the addition of sectors developed by Ducks Unlimited, the wildlife area has become a prime site for observing waterfowl. Several dabbling ducks breed here, and visitors may be astonished to find American Wigeon, Northern Shoveler and Wood Duck.

In winter, the site offers an abundance of species that are even easier to spot, such as the familiar Black-capped Chickadee, the American Tree Sparrow, and the Blue Jay, whose raucous cries echo among the rocky escarpments and merge with those of the Common Raven.

Rarities

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Check-list

Birds you can see here include:

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Other Wildlife

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Site Information

History and Use

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Areas of Interest

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Access and Facilities

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Contact Details

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External Links

Canadian Wildlife Service

Content and images originally posted by Gaga