Mary's Harbour Stewardship Traditional Cache
Mary's Harbour Stewardship
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Stewardship is "the careful and responsible management of something entrusted in one's care".
Mary's Harbour signed a Coastal Habitat Stewardship Agreement in 2009 pledging their commitment to conservation and protection of coastal habitat for seaducks, shorebirds, and other associated wildlife within a specified Stewardship Zone.
St. Peter's Bay is located approximately 25km south of Mary's Harbour and is approximately 5km wide with several small islands located in its middle. The waterfowl in St. Peter's Bay, particularly the Common Eider, utilize the rocky coasts, shoals, and islands at various times throughout the year. The vegetation on the islands is limited to sedges, grasses, stunted trees and crowberry barrens which they utilize for breeding, nesting, moulting, staging and overwintering. The Canadian Wildlife Service considers the bay to be the only primary moulting area for Eiders along the southern Labrador coast south of Table Bay, with estimates of up to 3000 moulting Eiders congregating there during the months of July and August. In 1942, the Newfoundland Rangers estimated a breeding population of approximately 500 pairs of Common Eider in the St. Peter's Bay archipelago, however by 1969 only 51 pairs were counted. St. Peter's Bay is also the traditional moulting area for the endangered Harlequin Duck.
Through the signing of the Coastal Habitat Stewardship Agreement, the Town of Mary's Harbour has agreed to support the development and promotion of best stewardship practices for the coastal area of St. Peter's Bay.
The conservation of coastal habitat, seaducks and seabirds depends not wholly on conservation plans or regulations but on the stewardship ethic of residents and visitors like yourself!
As it relates to Common Eiders, the following outlines guidelines for town residents to, as best as possible, live in harmony with Eider populations:
1. Generally, where possible, avoid seaduck nesting islands in the spring, but especially Eider islands during May and June.
2. If you must go to a nesting island, stay near the shore and out of sight of nesting females.
3. Never remove eggs from the nests.
4. Never chase or harass ducklings.
5. Always avoid young Eider while operating motor boats since ducklings are very vulnerable if they get separated from the adults.
If you hunt Eiders or other waterfowl, you should remember to:
1. Always stay within prescribed bag limits.
2. Do not hunt out of season.
3. Know your ducks so that you do not mistake Eiders for other species of waterfowl.
Additional Hints
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