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close| Location | Canada, Nova Scotia |
| Central coordinates | 64o 28.58' West 44o 10.48' North |
| IBA criteria | A4i |
| Area | 5,100 ha |
| Altitude | 0 - 5m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2008 |
Ornithological information This site supports significant numbers of breeding Piping Plovers, which are globally vulnerable and nationally endangered. In 1996, six birds, or just over 1% of the estimated Atlantic Canada population (estimated at 422 adults) were recorded at this site. In 1991, 14 birds, or about 3% of the estimated Atlantic Canada population at that time, were found on this stretch of the south shore.
During fall migration, thousands of shorebirds visit this piece of coastline. Maritimes Shorebird Survey (MSS) volunteers have surveyed Crescent Beach and Cherry Hill Beach since 1975. Volunteers count shorebirds every second weekend during the period of southward migration from late July to late October. MSS fall counts recorded a three-year average (1994,1996,1997) of 2,199 Semipalmated Plovers, which is more than 1% of this species global population. An average of 68 Willets (1994-1997) were recorded by fall MSS counts and 619 Sanderlings were recorded in 1980.
In the spring and fall, thousands of migrating waterfowl visit this site, but the numbers do not reach the national significance threshold of 10,000 birds. The occasional Harlequin Duck from the nationally endangered eastern population winters here.
Site description This site encompasses sections of the southern coast of south-central Nova Scotia between the towns of Bridgewater and Liverpool. The site covers Cap Bay, Crescent, Green Bay, Broad Cove, Cherry Hill and Beach Meadows beaches, which are favoured sites for Piping Plovers. Some of these sandy beaches back onto tidal lagoons, which are dry at low tide. Rocky coastlines with steep headlands are located between the beaches, but most of these areas provide little shelter for wintering birds. These headlands enclose some small, and one large bay. The climate is maritime, and the tides range from 3 to 5 m.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semipalmated Plover Charadrius semipalmatus | passage | 1996 | 2,199 individuals | - | A4i | Least Concern |
Protected areas
| Protected area | Designation | Area (ha) | Relationship with IBA | Overlap with IBA (ha) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cherry Hill | Protected Beach | 51 | protected area overlaps with site | 4 |
|
| Green Bay | Protected Beach | 4 | protected area contained by site | 5 |
|
| Long Point | Operational Parks and Reserves | 0 | protected area contained by site | 1 |
|
| Risser's Beach | Provincial Park | 92 | protected area contained by site | 110 |
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Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands (inland) | Estuarine waters; Intertidal mud, sand or salt flats | 15% |
| Sea | Open sea; Sea inlets | 60% |
| Coastline | Sea cliffs and rocky shores | 25% |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| fisheries/aquaculture | major |
| hunting | minor |
| tourism/recreation | minor |
Conservation response Piping Plovers and other shorebirds are monitored at a minimum of three beaches at this site. Birding is also a frequent activity. In some areas, summer homes are beginning to encroach on Piping Plover habitat. The nearby beaches attract people who may in turn, inadvertently diminish the plovers breeding success.
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: South Shore - East Queens Co. Sector. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 18/06/2013
To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife
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