NS002: Upper Cumberland Basin
Global Key Biodiversity Area
Site Info
45.78°N 64.39°W
Elevation:
0 to 5 m
Area: 193
km²
Important
Links
IBA
Site
Go to the IBA Canada webpage for this site.
Thresholds
See the thresholds for species at this site.
WDKBA
See this site on the World Database for KBAs.
Review
Site
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Bird Species
Meeting KBA Criteria
Species
Number
Date
Season
Global
Global
Data Issues
National
National
Data Issues
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Calidris pusilla
106,121-148,200
2002-2011
D1aThreshold: > 120,000
Out of Date
D1aThreshold: > 100,000
Out of Date
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Chignecto Bay, which is the western arm of the upper Bay of Fundy, divides into Shepody Bay on the western side and the Cumberland Basin on the eastern side. This site includes Upper Cumberland Basin north of the Elysian Fields and winds southeast to Amherst Point and the mouth of the Maccan River. Directly west of Amherst Point, across the basin, is the community and mudflats of Minudie. Vast areas of mud, sand flats, and salt marshes are exposed at low tide.
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Mud flats at the head of the upper Bay of Fundy are used extensively by migrating shorebirds for staging during fall migration. The mud contains a wide range of invertebrate prey, including mud shrimp (Corophium volutator), which are a vital food source for many shorebirds. Shorebirds use this site to feed before beginning non-stop three- to four-day migration flights to their wintering grounds in South America. The rich feeding habitats in the Bay of Fundy enable the birds to build up fat stores necessary to make this long migration.
In the Upper Cumberland Basin, in the Minudie region, 50,000 Semipalmated Sandpipers have been recorded. Across the whole Upper Cumberland Basin site, between 60,000 and 100,000 Semipalmated Sandpipers are regularly reported, with a high of 148,200 reported in 2002. Other shorebirds that frequent the area in the fall include Red Knot, Sanderling, Least Sandpiper, Dunlin, Short-billed Dowitcher, and White-rumped Sandpipers.
In addition to shorebirds, high numbers of Canada Geese historically visited Upper Cumberland Basin during spring migration; for example, 10,000 were recorded in 1968. In recent years, however, the numbers of geese in the area have declined, with recent maximum observations of approximately 1,000 birds.
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The Upper Cumberland Basin is recognized as a site of Hemispheric Importance by the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network. It is also a Ramsar site. In 1975, a small marsh portion of this site (1,300 hectares) was protected as the Chignecto National Wildlife Area. Other protected areas include Fossil Coast Nature Reserve along the southeast coast of the site (227 hectares), John Lusby Marsh National Wildlife Area in the northeast portion of the site (538 hectares), and a land parcel near Amherst Point owned by Ducks Unlimited (27 hectares). If proposed plans to re-dyke areas of salt marshes proceed, shorebird foraging and roosting habitat could be seriously altered.
Site Info
45.78°N 64.39°W Elevation: 0 to 5 m Area: 193 km²Important Links
| Species | Number | Date | Season | Global | Global Data Issues |
National | National Data Issues |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla |
106,121-148,200 | 2002-2011 | D1a Threshold: > 120,000 |
Out of Date | D1a Threshold: > 100,000 |
Out of Date |
Chignecto Bay, which is the western arm of the upper Bay of Fundy, divides into Shepody Bay on the western side and the Cumberland Basin on the eastern side. This site includes Upper Cumberland Basin north of the Elysian Fields and winds southeast to Amherst Point and the mouth of the Maccan River. Directly west of Amherst Point, across the basin, is the community and mudflats of Minudie. Vast areas of mud, sand flats, and salt marshes are exposed at low tide.
Mud flats at the head of the upper Bay of Fundy are used extensively by migrating shorebirds for staging during fall migration. The mud contains a wide range of invertebrate prey, including mud shrimp (Corophium volutator), which are a vital food source for many shorebirds. Shorebirds use this site to feed before beginning non-stop three- to four-day migration flights to their wintering grounds in South America. The rich feeding habitats in the Bay of Fundy enable the birds to build up fat stores necessary to make this long migration.
In the Upper Cumberland Basin, in the Minudie region, 50,000 Semipalmated Sandpipers have been recorded. Across the whole Upper Cumberland Basin site, between 60,000 and 100,000 Semipalmated Sandpipers are regularly reported, with a high of 148,200 reported in 2002. Other shorebirds that frequent the area in the fall include Red Knot, Sanderling, Least Sandpiper, Dunlin, Short-billed Dowitcher, and White-rumped Sandpipers.
In addition to shorebirds, high numbers of Canada Geese historically visited Upper Cumberland Basin during spring migration; for example, 10,000 were recorded in 1968. In recent years, however, the numbers of geese in the area have declined, with recent maximum observations of approximately 1,000 birds.
The Upper Cumberland Basin is recognized as a site of Hemispheric Importance by the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network. It is also a Ramsar site. In 1975, a small marsh portion of this site (1,300 hectares) was protected as the Chignecto National Wildlife Area. Other protected areas include Fossil Coast Nature Reserve along the southeast coast of the site (227 hectares), John Lusby Marsh National Wildlife Area in the northeast portion of the site (538 hectares), and a land parcel near Amherst Point owned by Ducks Unlimited (27 hectares). If proposed plans to re-dyke areas of salt marshes proceed, shorebird foraging and roosting habitat could be seriously altered.