St. George's Area Bird Sanctuary

(All photos are courtesy of Mrs. Molly M. Sorlie.)

Mr. Peter St.Croix, a long time Stephenville Crossing resident has taken a keen interest in the well being of the birds in this area. Outlined is a description of some birds that he has sighted in the area, as well as how one can visit and obser ve the birds. Note: Highlighted asterics indicate a link which reveals further information about location

Deep at the bottom of St. George's Bay lie extensive tidelands where numerous rivers and streams mix with ocean currents. The surrounding land consists of tall trees, grass, shrubs, and marsh land, making it an ideal location for birds to gather, nes t and feed.

The mud and sand of this area attracts large numbers of shorebirds, gulls and terns and a few herons from early May to mid October. The first North American nests of the Common Blackheaded Gull were found at nearby Sandy Point, and there are usually birds on the flats from mid May to September. Terns are also common here with small but noisy family parties of Caspian Tern very conspicuous in late summer and early fall.

Dabbling ducks gather on the St. George's River from late August with diving ducks a feature of early winter. Another very common bird throughout the summer is the Osprey and as many as 40 have been seen in the air together in early September. Songbirds are not a major attraction in the area which has very little forest compared with the surrounding region, but strong westerly winds will sometimes deposit migrants.

Stephenville Crossing looks very different at high than at low tide, so there are two totally different strategies for birds visiting the area. At low tide, many birds will feed on the extensive mud and sand flats inside the two bridges.The St George's River is very shallow and its pondlike expanse provides excellent feeding for gulls, terns and shorebirds.

Blackbellied Plover, Red Knot, Caspian, Common and Arctic Terns, Ringbilled and Common Blackheaded Gulls all tend to feed on and around the sandbanks which makes them more difficult to observe. Blackbellied Plover totals are often higher than 65. There is also a large number of Red Knot which is suprising for Newfoundland. Swirling flocks of Semipalmated Plover, Greater Yellowlegs, Whiterumped and Semipalmated Sandpipers, and the accompyaning Shortbilled Dowitcher and Greater Yellowlegs, prefere the muddier portions and can be approached quite closely on foot, although a telescope may be useful at low tide.

The glasswort flats near Stephenville Crossing are a favorite habitat for Least and Pectoral Sandpipers which are joined by other sandpipers and plovers, including ocasional Piping Plovers, Lesser Y ellowlegs, Baird's and Buffbreasted Sandpipers, and Dunlins in early September. The bordering dune grasses and scrub shelter nesting Horned Lark, Yellow Warbler and Savannah Sparrow, which have to watch out for the American Kestral and Nort hern Harrier. This area has also attracted nesting Killdeer which were rare until quite recently. Mattis Point provides a good location to scope the estuary for Canada Geese, Black Ducks and a variety of dabbling and diving ducks which have included Bufflehead and Hooded Merganser.

If the selection at Stephenville Crossing is limited on your visit because of weather or tide conditions, there are a variety of excellent birding locations nearby.

These sites include:
• Barachois
• Sandy Point
• Stephenville
• Corner Brook