There are three places worthy of special mention, either for their natural habitat or for their
flora and
fauna typical of the Îles de la Madeleine. Two sites are designated as reserves in the Islands:
Île Brion and pointe de l'Est in
Grosse Île. Rocher aux Oiseaux became a bird sanctuary in 1919.
Île-Brion Ecological Reserve
The Île-Brion Ecological Reserve is located 16 km off
Grosse-Île. Several families occupied it for about a century, after which it was seasonally inhabited for fishing until the beginning of the 1970's. It is now deserted. This island has always been difficult to visit, especially on windy days, and the old wharf offers little protection for boats.
In 1984, the Government of Québec acquired the island for conservation purposes. It shelters a great diversity of species and represents the Islands as they used to be. Its forest, stunted by the climate, is home to more than 140 species of birds. The vegetation found here amazed both the explorer Jacques Cartier and the botanist Marie-Victorin.
CAMI, the Council for Anglophone Magdalen Islanders, manages the island in an official capacity for the Québec Minister of the Environment. Visits and short stays for educational purposes may be authorised: conservation, observation, and exploring the natural habitat. Only a limited number of visitors are permitted on the island at a time.
Guided boat excursions are available, weather permitting. Confirmation for departure and schedule are available the day of departure only.
Reservations required with boat tour organizers.
Entry fees will be charged.
Bird Rock Sanctuary
This high rocky islet is located 32-km northeast of
Grosse-Île, in the middle of a shipping lane for vessels entering the Gulf of St-Lawrence. Access to this islet is difficult for visitors. It serves as a refuge for colonies of aquatic birds such as petrels, northern gannets, razorbills, murres and gulls. Even though the lighthouse, first lit in 1870, is now automated, the lightkeeper's house and other structures are still there. Even with its difficult access, this rock is one of the most important
ornithology sites in the gulf of St-Lawrence.
Guided boat excursions are available.
East Point National Wildlife Reserve
This National Wildlife Area situated in the region of
Grosse-Île, is a vestige of the sole ecosystem of its kind in Québec. Its 684-hectare site brings together in whole or in part the typical elements of the archipelago's landscape. This territory is protected and administered by Environment Canada's Canadian Wildlife Service and is part of the network of eight national wildlife areas in Québec.
For many shorebirds and ducks, the reserve represents an essential stopping point in their yearly migrations. The presence of the piping plover and the horned grebe during the breeding period is one of the main justifications for protecting the
Pointe-de-l'Est habitat, since these birds are on the list of endangered species.
For information, Canadian Wildlife Service, T: 418-648-7225..
To explore the Reserve, its vegetation so typical of the dune environment and its bird life, two nature interpretation trails are available: Les Marais Salés and L'Échouerie. These are accessible from route 199, after
Grosse-Île and before Old-Harry. Access to the Reserve is free and trails can be walked alone or with
a guided tour.
There are many other beautiful areas where you will enjoy walking tours or hikes. Outdoor activities providers offer
guided interpretive tours with accredited guides.
