Nova Scotia’s Johns Island listed as protected habitat for migratory birds

Common Eiders are pictured in flight in an undated photo. (Source: Simon d'Entremont)

An island off southwestern Nova Scotia is now classified as protected land.

The Nova Scotia Nature Trust said protecting the entirety of Johns Island will help migratory birds. The island sits about a kilometre and a half offshore, just west of Central Woods Harbour, and is considered a “critical stopover” along what’s known as the “Atlantic Flyway.”

“Like other islands and coastal habitats along this route, Johns Island gives birds food and safe places to rest along their arduous migration journeys,” read a news release Friday.

The Nova Scotia Nature Trust said the island is also a nesting site for several at-risk bird species.

“In fact, the Common Eider colony found there is believed to be the largest in Nova Scotia. For a species with a sharply declining population even among birds already at risk, the protection of this site is significant on this point alone.”

The release said said Johns Island is also an important foraging site for Roseate Terns, which are listed both provincially and federally as endangered. Several other species have been spotted nesting or stopping on the island, including Great Blue Heron, Fox Sparrow and Blackpoll Warblers.

In order to complete this project, the Nova Scotia Nature Trust received funding from the Government of Canada’s Department of Environment and Climate Change, as well as the Nova Scotia Crown Share Land Legacy Trust.

For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page