Scotch Bonnet Island National Wildlife Area pamphlet
What makes Scotch Bonnet Island NWA so special?
A small outpost of conservation in the large expanse of Lake Ontario, the one-hectare Scotch Bonnet Island National Wildlife Area (NWA) was established in 1979 to protect nesting habitat for colonial waterbirds and as a site for research. The island’s limestone outcroppings and barren ground along with its isolation make it an ideal site for the hundreds of Herring Gulls and Double-crested Cormorants that breed or rest there in summer. Scotch Bonnet Island NWA is
- one of Canada’s smallest NWAs;
- home to one of the largest Herring Gull colonies in the Canadian waters of Lake Ontario;
- a stopover site for migratory birds, especially waterfowl and shorebirds during spring and fall migration;
- part of a long-term study of persistent toxic chemicals and reproductive success in colonial waterbird populations on the Canadian portion of the Great Lakes, coordinated by Environment and Climate Change Canada.
What are Environment and Climate Change Canada Protected Areas?
Environment and Climate Change Canada establishes marine and terrestrial NWAs for the purposes of conservation, research and interpretation. NWAs are established to protect migratory birds, species at risk, and other wildlife and their habitats. NWAs are established under the authority of the Canada Wildlife Act and are, first and foremost, places for wildlife.
Migratory Bird Sanctuaries (MBSs) are established under the authority of the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994, and provide a refuge for migratory birds in marine and terrestrial environments. The current Protected Areas Network consists of 54 NWAs and 92 MBSs comprising close to 12 million hectares across Canada.
What can I do at Scotch Bonnet Island NWA?
Public access to Scotch Bonnet Island NWA is prohibited to protect colonial waterbirds and other wildlife from disturbance. Permits are required to visit and to conduct research, surveys and monitoring, and must be obtained from the Canadian Wildlife Service. For a complete list of NWAs, including those you can visit, please see our website.
Long description of the map
Location of the NWA on an illustrated map of Canada. The NWA location is indicated by a general annotation in the province of Ontario.
Who can I contact?
Environment and Climate Change Canada - OntarioCanadian Wildlife Service
4905 Dufferin Street
Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4
1-800-668-6767
Email: ec.enviroinfo.ec@canada.ca
Protected Area web site
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