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The Cabot Head Imortant Bird Area (IBA) is
located on the northeast headland of the Upper Bruce Peninsula in south
central Ontario. Extending into Georgian Bay, this IBA includes both the
terrestrial habitats of the cape and the offshore waters from Dyers Bay
to approximately one kilometre west of Cabot Head. It supports a
continentally significant population of Red-necked Grebes, large numbers
of White-winged Scotres, Long-tailed Ducks, common Loons, a significant
raptor and landbird migration, and the largest contiguous forest south
of the precambrian Shield.
The presence of karge numbers of Red-necked Grebes off Cabot Head in the
spring is central reason why Cabot Head is officially recognised as one
of Canada's IBAs. An expert diver, the Red-necked Grebes feeds on both
fish and aquatic arthropods. A survey conducted for this species in 2000,
recorded a peak of 400 between Dyers Bay and Cabot Head. the IBA Steering
Committeee has developed a protocol for censusing Red-necked Grebes during
migration, and attracted a crops of volunteers to undertake the survey.
The Bruce peninsula Bird Observatory has initiated landbird and waterbird
monitoring from facilities in the Cabot Head Provincial Nature Reserve.
There are no direct threats to landbird and waterbird populations within the IBA.
The timing of the grebes mogration (April to mid MAy) means that disturbance from
watrecraft of fishing vessels is minimal, though a potential concern.
The IBA steering committee developed the following vision and goals for the IBA:
Vision
The Cabot Head Important Bird Area will be conserved and managed to protect its
significance for migratory and resident birds, and as a place where birds can
be monitored, studied and enjoyed.
Goals
- conserve the terrestrial and aquatic habitats of the Cabot Head IBA from degradation
- identify and mitigate threats to migrating Red-necked Grebes
- determine the scope and magnitude of the Red-necked migration through Cabot Head
- establish a reasrch facility at Cabot Head to house bird migration monitoring and research on birds and other aspects of Cabot Head's natural and cultural history
- foster the development of the Bruce Peninsula Bird Observatory as a local, charitable, non-profit associatiob dedicated to the birds on the Bruce Peninsula, including the Cabot Head IBa
- provide local residents and visitors with opportunities to learn about birds and the significance of Cabot Head IBA, while not overly promoting the area as an ecotourism destination
Introduction
Midnight, late April 1987, we walked slowly along the small and winding gravel road linking Cabot Head to the rest of the Bruce Peninsula. Cow-like utterings filled the air; two of the uninitiated in the party craned their necks, peering into the blackness in search of a cattle pasture. The night sky was filled with stars, almost beyond belief. Several hours later, daybreak revealed the dark blue waters of Georgian Bay dotted with small but elegant silhouettes of Red-necked Grebes as far as the eye could see. Occasionally one of the hundreds of birds emitted a strange mooing sound, leaving no doubt who the musicians were the previous night.
The Red-necked Grebe chooses Cabot Head as one of few known stepping stones in its spring flight from the Atlantic to its breeding grounds, which lies primarily to the north and west of the Great Lakes. The presence of large numbers of Red-necked Grebe off Cabot Head in the spring is the central reason why Cabot Head is officially recognised as one of Canada’s Important Bird Areas (IBA).
The Cabot Head IBA is located on the northeast headland of the Upper Bruce Peninsula in south central Ontario. Extending into Georgian Bay, this IBA includes both the terrestrial habitats of the cape and the offshore waters from Dyers Bay to approximately one kilometre west of Cabot Head. It supports a continentally significant population of Red-necked Grebe. Large numbers of White-winged Scoter, Long-tailed Duck (Oldsquaw), and Common Loon, a significant raptor and landbird migration, and the largest contiguous forest south of the Precambrian Shield in Ontario add to the significance of Cabot Head for birds. Its breath-taking landscape and physical, botanical and historical features make this truly one of the most outstanding sites in Ontario.
The first stakeholders meeting of the Cabot Head IBA was held in the unheated lighthouse keeper’s house on November 6, 1999. Despite near freezing temperatures, the mood was warm, and the group laid out the basic tenets that have guided the Steering Committee’s work ever since. The IBA Steering committee, made up of representatives from Ontario Parks, Bruce National Park, the Friends of Cabot Head, local naturalist clubs and other individuals, have held several meetings to further this plan, and determine how to monitor and protect the birds at Cabot Head. Audrey Heagy has led work at the Cabot Head research station, to test the sites’ potential for migration monitoring. The steering committee has designed and executed a volunteer-based survey of the spring grebe migration through the IBA. In very little time, the accomplishments in this IBA are nothing short of remarkable!
The vision statement for the Cabot Head IBA is as follows:
The Cabot Head Important Bird Area will be conserved and managed to protect its significance for migratory and resident birds, respecting its outstanding biological, geological and aesthetic significance, and as a place where birds can be monitored, studied and enjoyed.
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