HighBank (PE005)

HighBank (PE005)

Southeast Shore, Prince Edward Island

Site Description

High Bank is located on the south (Northumberland Strait) coast of southeastern Prince Edward Island. It is about 10 km east of the Wood Islands ferry terminal and 24 km south of the town of Montague. As implied by the local name, the site consists of cliffs of red Permian sandstone, 20 to 25m in height, which extend along the straight (east-west) coast for about 8 km. The climate is maritime, quite windy but with little fog, and sea ice persists into April.

Birds

Over the last 12 years, High Bank has supported a yearly average of 92 nests of Great Cormorants. This represents almost 1.5% of the estimated North American Great Cormorant population. This colony was unknown (except to local residents?) before 1973, presumably reflecting a general increase of cormorants around that time. A peak of 317 nests was recorded in 1983, while a low of 6 nests was recorded in 1993. In addition to Great Cormorants, a few pairs of Double-crested Cormorants, Black Guillemots, and Rock Doves have also nested at this colony.

Conservation Issues

Some fishing interests disapprove of cormorants, and thus cormorants and their nests are occasionally destroyed. An absence of fishing communities located close to this colony, and a scarcity of shallow waters nearby, may reduce such disturbance here. The marine areas at the base of the cliffs are overseen by the federal Fisheries and Oceans department. The land above the cliffs is mostly privately owned. Populations of cormorants at this colony have been surveyed annually by the Prince Edward Island Fish and Wildlife Division since 1987.

IBA Criteria Habitats Land Uses Potential or Ongoing Threats Conservation Status

• Great Cormorant634 (max.)