Akimiski Island Migratory Bird Sanctuary

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Akimiski Island Migratory Bird Sanctuary
Akimiski Island NASA.jpg
Landsat image of Akimiski Island
Location James Bay, Qikiqtaaluk, Nunavut, Canada
Coordinates 52°57′32″N81°06′34″W / 52.95889°N 81.10944°W / 52.95889; -81.10944 Coordinates: 52°57′32″N81°06′34″W / 52.95889°N 81.10944°W / 52.95889; -81.10944
Area3,367 km2 (1,300 sq mi)
Established1941
Governing body Canadian Wildlife Service

The Akimiski Island Migratory Bird Sanctuary is a migratory bird sanctuary in Qikiqtaaluk, Nunavut, Canada. It is located on Akimiski Island within James Bay. The sanctuary, established by the Canadian government on 1 January 1941, has federal conservation status. [1] Taking up the eastern two-thirds of the island, it is 3,367 km2 (1,300 sq mi) in overall size, including a 1,664 km2 (642 sq mi) marine area. It includes marine, intertidal, and subtidal components, [2] and is rated Category Ib by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. [3]

Contents

The coastal waters and wetlands are important feeding grounds for several varieties of migratory waterfowl and shorebirds. These include Atlantic brant, Canada goose, Caspian tern, Hudsonian godwit, lesser snow goose, red knot, and semipalmated plover. [4]

Among mammalians, ringed seals, polar bears, and beluga whales can be found in the area. [5]

Other designations

In addition to the migratory bird sanctuary designation, this area is an Important Bird Area, site #NU036. Most of the coastline has been designated as a key terrestrial habitat for migratory birds by the Canadian Wildlife Service. [1]

Related Research Articles

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Akimiski Island is the largest island in James Bay, Canada, which is part of the Qikiqtaaluk Region of the territory of Nunavut. It has an area of 3,001 km2 (1,159 sq mi), making it the 163rd largest island in the world, and Canada's 29th largest island. Akimiski Island is 19 km (12 mi) from the province of Ontario. From the western side of the island, the Ontario coastline is visible.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southampton Island</span>

Southampton Island is a large island at the entrance to Hudson Bay at Foxe Basin. One of the larger members of the Arctic Archipelago, Southampton Island is part of the Kivalliq Region in Nunavut, Canada. The area of the island is stated as 41,214 km2 (15,913 sq mi) by Statistics Canada. It is the 34th largest island in the world and Canada's ninth largest island. The only settlement on Southampton Island is Coral Harbour, called Salliq in Inuktitut.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dewey Soper Migratory Bird Sanctuary</span> Protected area and Ramsar site, Nunavut, Canada

Dewey Soper Migratory Bird Sanctuary, or Dewey Soper, is a migratory bird sanctuary in the Qikiqtaaluk Region, Nunavut, Canada. It is located in western Baffin Island, from Bowman Bay to the Koukdjuak River, and is named in honour of zoologist J. Dewey Soper. It is an 8,159 km2 (3,150 sq mi) area that was classified a wetland of international importance via the Ramsar Convention on May 24, 1982. The bird sanctuary supports nearly 30% of the breeding geese in Canada, making it the largest goose colony in the world. Up to two million birds of various species use the area for summer nesting, and it is also "habitat for one of Canada's major barren-ground caribou herds". The sanctuary was established in 1957, and is subject to the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement, which defines and governs ownership, land use and hunting rights in the area.

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The Boatswain Bay Migratory Bird Sanctuary is a migratory bird sanctuary that extends between Nunavut and Quebec, Canada. It is located in Boatswain Bay an arm of James Bay, and the Quebec headland. It was established on 29 January 1941 and consists of 17,900 hectares It was established in 1941. It is classified Category IV by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

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References

  1. 1 2 "Akimiski Island James Bay, Nunavut". bsc-eoc.org. Archived from the original on 2011-06-12. Retrieved 2009-04-22.
  2. "Area Name: Akimiski Island". mpaglobal.org. Archived from the original on 2011-07-26. Retrieved 2009-09-05.
  3. "Akimiski Island Migratory Bird Sanctuary". canada.ca. Government of Canada. Archived from the original on 5 January 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
  4. "Protected Areas and Sensitive Habitats" (PDF). dfo-mpo.gc.ca. p. 11. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-06-29. Retrieved 2009-09-05.
  5. "Akimiski Island Migratory Bird Sanctuary". Archived from the original on 2017-09-18. Retrieved 2016-10-26.