Pointe-au-Père National Wildlife Area
Pointe-au-Père National Wildlife Area, landscape © Environment Canada
Description
The Pointe-au-Père National Wildlife Area (NWA) encompasses 23 ha consisting of a small intertidal marsh on the south shore of the Lower Estuary of the St. Lawrence 5 km east of Rimouski. Established in 1986 by Environment Canada, its purpose is to protect numerous habitats, including the Spartina marsh, a very popular habitat for thousands of migratory birds during their migration and nesting periods. The wildlife area is one of the best shorebird-watching sites in the province.
The area features a Spartina marsh dotted with brackish ponds and shielded from the St. Lawrence by a rocky point. The Sainte-Anne River crosses the marsh from east to west, coursing through a variety of habitats, from a stretch of brackish ponds colonized by Saltmeadow Cordgrass and Smooth Cordgrass, through eelgrass beds to salt meadows populated by Carex and grasses and bordered by Sweet Gale and other shrubs. The wildlife area is part of an increasingly limited network of staging areas running the length of shorebird migratory routes. More than 120 bird species frequent the site, and approximately 15 of them also nest there. Several species at risk, such as the Peregrine Falcon, are observed on occasion.
In the spring, flocks of Least Sandpipers congregate at the site, sometimes in flocks of more than 500 individuals, while Great Blue Heron feed in the marshes in the company of Black-crowned Night-herons and large communities of Brants. In the summer, American Black Ducks, Mallards, Northern Pintails and Green-winged Teals raise their young and feed on the plentiful invertebrates in the brackish ponds. During the fall migration, Red-throated Loon and Common Loon, and large numbers of Canada Geese, are observed. Large communities of Sanderlings and Semipalmated Sandpipers also use the area, along with the White-rumped Sandpiper. As many as ten or more species of mammals also use this site, including the muskrat, the Masked Shrew, the Meadow Jumping Mouse and the Meadow Vole.
Despite its small size, the Pointe-au-Père NWA is exposed to a number of threats that could potentially compromise its ecological integrity, including nearby urban and industrial development, disturbance due to human activity, wastewater contamination, and the risk of oil spills associated with marine transportation.
More information on Pointe-au-Père NWA is provided in the summary table below.
Management
National Wildlife Areas (NWAs) are protected and managed according to the Wildlife Area Regulations under the Canada Wildlife Act. The primary purpose of NWAs is the protection and conservation of wildlife and their habitat. For this purpose, and according to the legislation, Environment Canada can prohibit all activities in a NWA that could interfere with the conservation of wildlife. Consequently, most NWAs are not accessible to the public and all activities are prohibited. Nonetheless, Environment Canada has the ability to authorize some activities, whether through public notice or the issuance of permits, as long as these are consistent with the management plan goals for the NWA. For more information, consult the NWAs Management and Activities section.
Access to the Pointe-au-Père NWA is restricted to designated areas and activities may be permitted in accordance with the conservation objectives of the NWA management plan. Public notices listing the authorized activities within the wildlife area are posted at access points. Activities that are only allowed in authorized areas of the NWA include: hiking, nature observation and photography.
Permits may be issued for research activities in keeping with the priorities set out in the management plan for the wildlife area. Permits may also be issued for other conservation activities such as surveys, or the enhancement or restoration of habitat.
Priority will be given to collaborative activities with local agencies and organizations to promote the protection and the conservation of wildlife species and their habitat in the NWA. For example, initiatives could be launched or continued with the following entities: universities or research centers to address gaps in scientific knowledge; the province to implement recovery measures for species at risk (particularly those falling under provincial jurisdiction); or non-governmental organizations or municipal authorities to build public awareness of the wildlife area's objectives.
More information on access and permitting for Pointe-au-Père NWA can be obtained by contacting the Environment Canada regional office.
Map of Pointe-au-Père National Wildlife Area
Summary Table for the Pointe-au-Père NWA
| Protected Area designation | National Wildlife Area |
| Province/territory | Québec |
| Latitude/longitude | 48°31’N 68°28’O |
| Size in hectares (ha) | 22.6 ha |
| Reason for Creation of protected area | Protection of various habitats including Spartina marshes frequented by migratory birds and other habitats important to shorebirds. |
| Date created (Gazetted) | 1986 – Legal description |
| International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Management Category | III – Strict Nature Reserve: protected area managed mainly for scientific purpose or to protect wildlife ressources.
|
| Additional designations |
|
| Keystone or flagship species | Least Sandpipers, Saltmeadow Cordgrass and Smooth Cordgrass |
| Listed Species under the Species at Risk Act (SARA) | Peregrine Falcon |
| Main habitat type | Interdidal marsh |
| Faunistic and floristic importance | The wildlife area is part of an increasingly limited network of staging areas running the length of migratory routes, making it an important site for shorebirds and waterbirds. |
| Invasive species | Information not available |
| Additional links | Birds: Great Blue Heron, Brant Goose, American Black Duck, Mallard, Northern Pintails, Red-throated Loon, Canada Goose, Sanderlings Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper and White-rumped Sandpiper. Mammals: Muskrat, Masked Shrew, Meadow Jumping Mouse, and Meadow Vole. |
| Main threats and challenges | Nearby urban and industrial development, disturbance due to human activity, wastewater contamination, and risk of oil spills. |
| Management Agency | Environment Canada (Canadian Wildlife Service) |
| Public access and usage | Access restricted to designated areas. Activities permitted: hiking, nature observation and photography in designated areas (0.5 km of trails). |
Note: If there is a discrepancy between the information presented on this web page and any notice posted at the NWA site, the notice prevails as it is the legal instrument authorizing the activity.
Environment Canada – Quebec Region
Canadian Wildlife Service
Ecosystem Conservation
801-1550, avenue d’Estimauville
Québec, Québec
G1J 0C3
Toll Free: 1-800-668-6767 (in Canada only)
Email: enviroinfo@ec.gc.ca
- Date Modified: