The largest migratory bird sanctuary in Canada, where 80 species breed in a 70-day summer. Snow geese colonies can exceed 300,000 birds. Scientists track individuals from satellite, revealing migration routes spanning continents.
An Arctic avian metropolis
Established in 1965, the Bylot Island Migratory Bird Sanctuary covers the entire 11,067-square-kilometer island and its adjacent waters. Much of this area is also protected within Sirmilik National Park. The sanctuary's primary purpose is to protect the immense breeding colonies of several important bird species that descend on the island for the brief Arctic summer.
The most numerous of these is the Greater Snow Goose (Chen caerulescens atlanticus). The southwestern plain of the island contains the largest known breeding colony for this subspecies. Approximately 100,000 of these geese, representing about 15% of the entire Canadian population, gather here. The population has grown dramatically from just a few thousand in the 1930s. The birds arrive in late May or early June and take advantage of the wetlands, which have many grasses and sedges that fuel their nesting and chick-rearing. The entire breeding cycle, from arrival to departure, is compressed into a frantic 70-day window before the winter ice returns.
Long-term research projects track the population dynamics of these geese. Scientists monitor nest densities, clutch sizes, and hatching success to understand the health of the population. This research also examines the impact of the geese on the tundra vegetation.
Seabird cliffs and satellite science
Beyond the tundra, the sanctuary's dramatic coastal cliffs provide nesting sites for hundreds of thousands of seabirds. At the island's northwestern tip, the cliffs of Cape Hay rise up to 460 meters from the sea and host enormous colonies of Thick-billed Murres (Uria lomvia) and Black-legged Kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla). Combined with another major colony at Cape Graham Moore, the sanctuary supports over 300,000 murres and 50,000 kittiwakes. These numbers represent a significant portion of the birds' total Canadian populations, with estimates suggesting over 10% of Thick-billed Murres and 25% of Black-legged Kittiwakes use the island.
Scientific research on the island is extensive. A permanent research station, operated by the Centre d'études nordiques (CEN), is located in a glacial valley and supports studies on the entire ecosystem. Since 1990, a project based at Université Laval has fitted thousands of female snow geese with neck-bands to study their demographics. More recently, researchers have equipped adult female geese with GPS/GSM transmitters. These satellite trackers provide precise data on their migration routes, revealing flyways that stretch from the high Arctic, through staging grounds in southern Quebec, to wintering areas along the Atlantic coast of the United States.
💡Fun Facts
The island hosts 71 different bird species, an unusually high diversity for a location so far north.
The cliffs at Cape Hay are made of Precambrian dolomite.
Some bird species found here, like the Northern Wheatear and Common Ringed Plover, migrate from Old World wintering grounds, flying to Canada via Iceland and Greenland.
The island's north shore is a known maternity denning area for polar bears.
The sanctuary is a remote wilderness area with no set hours; access is generally limited to the summer months (June-August) by boat or aircraft.
Admission
Access requires a permit from Parks Canada and the Canadian Wildlife Service, as the area is within Sirmilik National Park and is a Migratory Bird Sanctuary.
Accessibility
There are no roads or facilities. The terrain consists of rugged mountains, glaciers, and tundra. Access is via chartered aircraft or boat from communities such as Pond Inlet, located about 85 km away.