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Bonaventure Island
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Gannets are spectacular birds with golden heads and blue bills. They make spectacular dives that thrill birders on pelagic trips, but they put on an even more spectacular show in the breeding colony. |
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Percé |
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Bonaventure Island
Two miles from shore is the island
of Bonaventure. The island is home to the second largest Northern Gannet
breeding colony in the world. and since 1972 a provincial park .
The
spectacular 250 foot nesting cliffs are best seen by taking a boat trip around
the island. The cliffs are white with birds: Gannets, Kittiwakes, Gulls,
Murres, Guillemots. Thousands and thousands of birds on the cliffs, flying in
and out and on the water below the cliffs. The walk across the island to the
Gannet colony is good for warblers and other land birds.
You havn't
really seen a Gannet until you see the activity at a breeding colony. Scenery
is magnificent and there are other activities such as fishing, whale watching
and dining on French cuisine. This is a must see place for birders and one that
can be enjoyed by non-birdering spouses and children. Certainly worth the long
trip around the Gaspé although the Peninsula has some other spots well
worth visiting for scenery and general birding
When To Visit
June - July are optimal, but the Gannets
are around in August and even September.
How To Get Out
There
There are local ferry boats that take visitors out to the island
and circle the island to see the cliffs on the far side. You can also land on
the other side of the island walk across the island through a pleasant boreal
forest to stand at a fence and watch the birds at close range.
Where
Can You Stay
Percé has a fine campground, several hotels and
restaurants. Seehttp://www.infogaspesie.com/villages/la_pointe/perce/perce.html
.
Map
This map shows the location of Bonaventure Island and the
Gaspé Peninsula.
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