Ahiak Migratory Bird Sanctuary

The Ahiak Migratory Bird Sanctuary (MBS) (formerly known as Queen Maud Gulf MBS) is located south of Victoria and King William Islands, in Nunavut. It protects quality habitat for many birds, including geese, shorebirds, brant and swans.

Importance of the sanctuary: migratory birds and other wildlife

Established in 1961, the Ahiak Migratory Bird Sanctuary covers 62,920 square kilometres of land and sea. Located on Nunavut’s central mainland coast, this expansive track of intact natural land is the only Environment and Climate Change (ECCC) protected area (migratory bird sanctuary or national wildlife area) within the Kitikmeot Region of Nunavut, and it remains rich in both wildlife and cultural resources. The original purpose of this sanctuary was to protect the largest variety of geese found in any nesting area in North America. However, because of its size, and the variety of habitats that it covers, the sanctuary is important not only for geese, but also for the many other species of migratory birds and wildlife that it supports.

Ahiak Migratory Bird Sanctuary encompasses the most extensive wetlands in the central Arctic, which provide essential habitat for over 1% of the global white geese population. Over 2 million white geese nest within the sanctuary. This includes over 90% of the world’s Ross’s goose population and 8% of the Canadian snow goose population (including over 30% of the western Canadian arctic lesser snow goose population). The sanctuary also supports smaller populations of nesting and moulting Canada goose, greater white-fronted goose, brant and tundra swan.

This sanctuary is also important for many other species of migratory birds - from waterbirds and waterfowl to shorebirds and landbirds. Migratory birds arrive in the sanctuary in May and remain until late August or early September when they (and/or their young of the year) leave the area to migrate south for the non-breeding season.

Several species listed under the federal Species at Risk Act either breed within or utilize the sanctuary, including the barren-ground caribou (dolphin and union population), peregrine falcon and red knot (rufa subspecies). The entirety of the sanctuary is used by the barren-ground caribou (beverly ahiak herd) as part of its traditional calving grounds. It also supports an estimated 6,000 muskoxen. These ungulate herds, and the vast open habitat, also support substantial populations of predators like wolves, grizzly bears, foxes and wolverines.

The most abundant marine animals in the area are the ringed seals that spend their time in the offshore waters, while the sanctuary’s numerous lakes, ponds and rivers are home to several species of fish. The most abundant of these is the arctic char.

This sanctuary was recognized under the Ramsar Convention, in 1982, as the world’s second largest Wetland of International Importance. It is also part of BirdLife International’s Queen Maud Gulf Lowlands Important Bird Area and is a Canadian Wildlife Service Key Migratory Bird Terrestrial Habitat Site and an Important Area for Birds in Nunavut.

Ahiak MBS is believed to be the original stock for most of the present-day mainland (Northwest Territories and Nunavut) muskoxen.

Landscape

The terrain within the Ahiak MBS is a generally flat plain extending 135 kilometres inland from the coast. The western landscape, characterized by rock outcrops, drumlins and boulder fields, rises 300 to 600 metres above sea level. The central lowlands are a vast expanse of tundra meadows and marshes broken up by rock outcrops, streams and shallow lakes. The eastern landscape has abrupt hills, ridges and boulder fields and ranges in elevation from 60 to 90 metres above sea level. Numerous lakes of various shapes and sizes are scattered across the hilly plains. Large rivers, such as the Tingmeak, Ellice, Perry, Armark, Simpson and Kaleet Rivers, play an important role in shaping the landscape, and wildlife make extensive use of the vegetation-rich river valleys.

The land within the Ahiak MBS has been, and continues to be, identified by Inuit as a place of cultural significance and the area is known to have numerous archaeological features. Inuit from Cambridge Bay, Gjoa Haven and Umingmaktok regularly journey to the sanctuary to harvest wildlife, birds, eggs, berries and fish, mainly during the open water season.

Map of the area

Access to the sanctuary

Migratory Bird Sanctuaries, such as Ahiak, are established across the country to protect migratory birds during critical periods of their life cycle. Whether these areas are used for feeding, resting or nesting, they play an important role in the survival of many species.  Entry and access to most Migratory Bird Sanctuaries is not restricted, however, the Migratory Bird Sanctuary Regulations set out the activities that are prohibited. The Minister of the Environment has the authority to authorize or permit activities in the Migratory Bird Sanctuaries that are otherwise prohibited.

The Ahiak MBS is managed by the Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) of Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) and Inuit from Cambridge Bay, Gjoa Haven and Umingmaktok, Nunavut, as part of a co-management agreement established through the Inuit Impact and Benefit Agreement for National Wildlife Areas and Migratory Bird Sanctuaries in the Nunavut Settlement Area (IIBA). The Ahiak Area Co-Management Committee (Ahiak ACMC) was formed through the IIBA and provides advice on all aspects of management of the MBS including but not limited to access permit applications, research conducted within the MBS, visitor use of the area, and management and protection of migratory birds and bird habitat.

In Nunavut, Nunavut Inuit, as per the Nunavut Agreement (NA), can hunt wildlife, including the collection of migratory bird eggs and feathers for their economic, social and cultural needs (Section 5 of the NA). Access to the Ahiak MBS by anyone other than Inuit enrolled under the NA is restricted; therefore, any non-Inuit must obtain a permit to access or conduct any activity within the MBS. Activities that may be permitted must be in accordance with the conservation objectives of the MBS Management Plan.

More information on access and permitting for the Ahiak MBS can be obtained by contacting the Environment and Climate Change Canada’s regional office in Iqaluit, Nunavut.

Key facts about Ahiak Migratory Bird Sanctuary

Contact us

Environment and Climate Change Canada – Northern Region
Canadian Wildlife Service
Protected Areas and Stewardship
Eastern Arctic Unit
P.O. Box 1714
Iqaluit NU X0A 0H0

Telephone: 867-975-4642
Toll Free: 1-800-668-6767 (in Canada only)
Email: enviroinfo@ec.gc.ca

Related links

• Ahiak MBS on Google Maps (Please note that the Google map is a complementary source of information that can help locate the migratory bird sanctuary and does not represent the official map or site name)
• Ahiak MBS Management plan
• Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act
• Migratory Bird Sanctuary Regulations
• International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
• Queen Maud Gulf Important Bird Area
• Queen Maud Gulf Ramsar Site
• Important Area for Birds in Nunavut
• Key Marine Habitat Site for Migratory Birds
• Key Migratory Bird Terrestrial Habitat Site
• Protected areas permits
• Area Co-Management Committees for National Wildlife Areas and Migratory Bird Sanctuaries in Nunavut