Migration

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Nature’s finest spectacle now playing at a Nova Scotia wetland near you!

A sure sign of autumn is the sound of birds overhead making their way south. Along their migration routes, ducks and geese have staging areas where they rest and fuel up in preparation for the flight. In Nova Scotia, many of these staging areas are being conserved by Ducks Unlimited Canada and its conservation partners as habitat for waterfowl and to increase viewing opportunities for people.

“Habitat conditions were good for breeding waterfowl in Atlantic Canada although the cool, wet summer might have reduced production somewhat,” said DUC biologist John Wile in Amherst. “Right now people will be seeing local breeding birds such as black ducks and Canada geese moving into and through the area. While blue-winged teal and wood ducks may not be around the area for long, the migration typically occurs over a long period of time, with a peak in late October to mid-November.”

Across Canada, waterfowl populations are up over last year. People in Nova Scotia can expect a migration similar to last year. For some migrating waterfowl such as Canada geese, black ducks, common eider and greater scaup, Nova Scotia is their destination point. They will remain in the ice-free coastal marshes and estuaries until spring

The following are DUC recommended hot spots for migration viewing. They are located within a one to two hour drive from Nova Scotia’s larger urban centres. These areas are among the 285 wetland habitat conservation projects DUC has completed in the province:

Sackville and Amherst area—Upper Bay of Fundy

  • Amherst Point Migratory Bird Sanctuary
  • Tantramar Marsh—A traditional waterfowl staging area and migration stop for black ducks, green-winged teal, blue-winged teal, wood ducks and ring necked ducks among other species. The birds feed on the wild rice stands.

Minas Bight

At Minas Bight, the Avon, Cornwallis, Gaspereau, Kennetcook and Cogmagun rivers converge to create estuaries, salt marsh and mud flats that provide ideal fall waterfowl habitat. DUC is actively working with partners to protect this habitat, which is also a Ramsar site, meaning the wetlands are recognized internationally for their importance to waterfowl.

Wallace Bay and Tatamagouche Bay—Northumberland Strait

Salt marsh and estuaries found along the stretch of coast from the Nova Scotia/New Brunswick border to Cape Breton offer migrating waterfowl plenty to eat.

Visit DUC’s Migration Station for quick migration facts.

For 65 Years, DUC has been conserving, restoring and managing wetlands and associated habitats for North America’s waterfowl. In addition to providing critical habitat to waterfowl and other wildlife, wetlands act as natural water filters that remove pollutants from drinking water.

 
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